The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
CONSTRUCTION SEASON WRAPPING UP
Some projects in Lake, Geauga, Cuyahoga to affect traffic through winter
The Ohio Department of Transportation invested in more than 20 major infrastructure improvements in the region this construction season, and only a few will remain in place through the winter, officials say.
The two main roadways still being affected by orange barrels in Lake, Geauga and Cuyahoga counties are Interstate 271 and Route 422.
“While many work zones are minimized or put on hold during the winter, motorists should still be alert and remember to leave plenty of distance between their vehicle and others on the road,” said ODOT District 12 spokeswoman Marissa McDaid. “The majority of crashes in construction zones are the result of drivers following one another too closely.”
I-271 — being widened in Oakwood, Bedford, Bedford Heights and Warrensville Heights — will have the most visible work zone, but the far left contraflow lane northbound near Forbes Road is to be eliminated for the winter, starting in early December 2017.
“Once the contraflow lane is removed, the lane configuration should be much more simplified,” McDaid said. “Most other work in our eastern counties should be complete or have no major impacts
to traffic.”
The contraflow configuration will be mimicked in the southbound lanes of the work zone in spring 2018. The project is on schedule for completion in summer 2020, she said.
Work is largely complete to widen the I-271 northbound exit ramp to Cedar/ Brainard Road and Brainard Road at I-271 in Lyndhurst.
All lanes are open to traffic, and minor operations such as permanent pavement markings and guardrail installation will take place through December with minimal traffic impacts.
The Route 422 work includes resurfacing the road between Routes 44 and 88 in Auburn, Troy and Parkman townships. The work is substantially complete, but lane closures will take place through early December to correct any surface irregularities found during the inspection.
And finally, among ODOT’s area projects, major work is complete on the Route 91 bridge deck over Route 2 in Eastlake and all lanes are open.
However, in the spring, crews will paint the bridge’s structural steel, seal concrete and complete landscaping.
County construction projects all were completed on time this season, county engineer representatives say.
“Geauga County experienced an excellent summer construction season of successful
asphalt resurfacing and reconstruction projects for county and township roads,” said Geauga Deputy Engineer Nick Gorris. “The traveling public should continue to experience safe and efficient travels through and in Geauga County.”
The city of Mentor has some construction zones that will remain active during the winter months.
They include the Route 20 widening east of Route 615, Marigold Road improvements, Two Town Stream Restoration/Springbrook Park improvements and the Plaza Boulevard Extension.
For Plaza Boulevard Extension, CSX crews have begun work at their railroad crossing. This is expected to last until mid-January.
“Work at Plaza Boulevard will be limited to the
railroad crossings and will not impact traffic,” Mentor Assistant City Engineer Brian Ashurst said. Route 20 roadway, driveway and sidewalk construction is to be completed in the coming weeks. Traffic signal work will progress during winter.
“Motorists on (Route 20) should expect daily lane closures when workers are present,” Ashurst said.
“Marigold traffic will be limited to local residents only with roadway closure at the point of construction. Once the project moves into the roadway reconstruction phase, the roadway will be limited to one-way northbound traffic with half of the road being reconstructed at a time.”
At the Two Town site, construction vehicles will use Jeremy Avenue to access the site, but no lane closures are expected.