Staff photo / Daniel Newman ODOT District 4 Public Information Officer Justin Chesnic unveils the department’s upcoming plans for road improvement throughout 2024.

YOUNGSTOWN — The Ohio Department of Transportation is beginning more than $85 million in road improvement projects throughout the region as construction season begins.

The Ohio Department of Transportation District 4 public information officers provided updates on numerous 2024 projects during a construction guide presentation Wednesday in Youngstown.

The two largest projects featured on the agenda include the $20.4 million diverging diamond interchange on state Routes 46 and 82 in Howland Township and the resurfacing of Interstate 680 from Gibson Street to just south of U.S. Route 224, throughout Youngstown and Boardman Township.

“We’re just kicking off the 2024 construction season for ODOT,” Justin Chesnic, public information officer for ODOT District 4, said. “We have about 25 projects between Mahoning and Trumbull County. We’re valued at about $85 million to $90 million this year, and we have some larger projects in the area.”

Chesnic said the project costs and the number of projects planned are “pretty typical,” and that each factor may vary with the individual sizes and number of steps in place for different projects.

“Every year we analyze every mile of pavement around the state,” Chesnic said. “When we resurface a roadway, we hope to get 10 to 15 years out of that. The easiest way to explain is that you pave a road, and every year you come back, you look at it, and you analyze what’s called a pavement condition rating (PCR). It’s like a test score. A brand new road is going to score 100%, and as it gets older, that number is going to get lower and lower. When you get into the 50s or 60s, that’s when you start to resurface it.”

When it pertains to work schedules and major holidays, such as Memorial Day, Independence Day and Labor Day, Chesnic said that ODOT will typically keep zones in place for major projects; however, contractors would not be seen working at the time.

“If it’s the resurfacings and the smaller jobs, we’ll try to pull those zones down and get everything out of the way so that folks can get in and out easier,” Chesnic said.

LARGE PROJECTS

The diverging diamond in Howland is entering its second year of construction, as the department is working on the state Route 82 westbound bridge, Chesnic explained. The westbound bridge construction is expected to be finished in May; the state Route 82 eastbound structure will follow in demolition and be rebuilt by the end of this year.

“Next year, we’ll start actually working on the diverging diamond interchange down below on 46,” Chesnic added.

Chesnic also said that the I-680 resurfacing is a one-year job. “We’re doing some repairs out there now, and we’re going to be doing that work for about another month or so,” Chesnic said. “Then around Memorial Day, we’ll start with the resurfacing work. We’ll be milling, and then doing some pavement repairs, paving, and that should wrap up this fall.”

Chesnic further explained that ODOT is “on schedule” with the active and upcoming projects, and that some work could be done preliminarily this spring. Work also paused somewhat during the April 8 eclipse because of the high number of motorists visiting from other states to view the event.

WORK ZONE SAFETY

ODOT is observing National Work Zone Safety Awareness Week this week, and this year’s theme is “Work Zones are a Sign to Slow Down.”

Chesnic said 42 ODOT crews already have been hit by motorists this year. Last year 56 such accidents were reported throughout the state.

“As far as ODOT crews go, we’re just 14 away from our total from last year, and it’s only April,” Chesnic said. “It’s alarming. All of our crews are right there on the side of the road, and again, a lot of these folks are mothers, fathers, brothers, sisters, sons and daughters. They have families and they want to get home, so their heads are constantly on a swivel all the time. They have to be alert of drivers veering left and right, and it’s a very real thing.

“I’ve seen it countless times — men and women out there getting struck. (I’ve seen) them having to dive out of the way, getting injured, and it’s unfortunate.”

TRUMBULL PROJECTS

* Drainage improvements along state Route 46, just north of Prospect Street to Gilbert Drive; adding curb on the east side of state Route 46, just north of Prospect Street to Ohltown Road; also including final striping began in July 2023 and is estimated to end in June. The project cost is about $1.6 million.

* State Route 5 slide repair on state Route 5 eastbound, just east of Mahoning Avenue in Champion, is expected to begin this month and end in July. The project cost is about $500,000.

* State Route 5 resurfacing from state Route 82 and state Route 46 in Bazetta Township and the Cortland is expected to begin this month and end in July. The project cost is about $1.5 million.

* Microsurfacing of state Route 46 between state Route 87 and state Route 88, and state Route 88 from state Route 46 to the west side of Mosquito Lake in Greene in Mecca Township is expected to begin this month and end in September. The project cost is about $5 million.

* U.S. Route 422 and state Route 5 resurfacing from North Leavitt Road to state Route 305 and on state Route 5 from just south of U.S. 422 to just south of West Market Street in Warren city; Champion, Southington and Warren townships, also including minor bridge repairs, is expected to begin this month and end in September. The project cost is about $6.4 million.

* Replacement of the state Route 5 bridge just east of Burnett East Road and the state Route 45 bridge between Airport Road and Prentice Road in Vernon and Champion townships; also includes repairs to the state Route 87 bridge just east of state Route 534 in Mesopotamia Township. The project is expected to begin this month and end in October. The project cost is about $1.6 million. State routes 5, 45 and 87 will all be closed for 30 days; all detours will be posted.

* Bridge deck replacement on state Route 7, just north of state Route 88 in Vernon Township is expected to begin in May and end in August. The project cost is about $1 million, and state Route 7 will be closed for 45 days.

* Resurfacing of state Route 46 between state Route 169 and Niles Vienna Road, and on state Route 169 between state Route 46 and just east of Russell Avenue in the City of Niles, including minor bridge repairs and new curb ramps, is expected to begin in May and end in August. The project cost is about $1.4 million.

* Resurfacing of state Route 46 from the northern Cortland corporation limit to state Route 88 in Bazetta and Mecca townships is estimated to begin in June and end in November. The project cost is about $1.6 million.

* Resurfacing of state Route 534 between state Route 88 and state Route 87 in Farmington and Mesopotamia townships, including minor bridge repair, is expected to begin in June and end in November. The project cost is about $1.8 million.

* Lighting upgrades at the state Route 5 and 82 interchanges at U.S. Route 422, Perkins Jones Road, and Elm Road in Warren, Bazetta and Champion townships are expected to begin in September and end in June 2025. The project cost is about $2.2 million.

* Resurfacing of state Route 11 from just north of state Route 82 to King Graves Road in Vienna Township, including minor bridge repair, is expected to begin in September and end in November. The project cost is about $2.4 million. A minimum of one lane of traffic will be maintained in each direction on state Route 11. Weekend and nightly ramp closures will occur.

* Resurfacing of state Route 534 between Hallock Young Road and Maple Drive in Newton Falls and Newton Township is expected to begin in September and end in November 2025. The project cost is about $1.3 million.

MAHONING PROJECTS

* Resurfacing of I-680 from Gibson Street to just south of U.S. Route 224 in Youngstown and Boardman, including repairs to nine bridges, began in November 2023 and is expected to end in December.

* Construction of noise walls along state Route 11 between Mahoning Avenue to just north of New Road in Austintown began in March 2024 and is expected to end in October 2024. The project cost is about $2.7 million.

* Construction of noise walls along the east side of I-680, between Midlothian Boulevard to south of Mathews Road in Youngstown and Boardman, is estimated to begin in November and end in November 2025. The project cost is about $8 million.

* Construction of a noise wall along the north side of I-76 just east of state Route 534 in Milton Township is expected to begin this month and end in September. The project cost is about $1.1 million.

* Replacement of a culvert on U.S. Route 224, just west of Poland Way in Poland Township began in August 2023 and is estimated to end in June. The project cost is about $800,000. U.S. 224 will be closed for 14 days.

* Resurfacing of state Route 165, from South Range Road to the Columbiana County line in Beaver and Springfield Townships, also including intersection improvements at state Route 165 and state Route 617, is beginning this month and is estimated to end in July. The project cost is about $1.3 million.

* Pavement and curb replacement on state Route 170, between state Route 630 to just south of E. Middletown Road in the Village of New Middletown and Springfield Townships, including drainage upgrades and access management, is expected to begin this month and end in October. The project cost is about $8 million. Southbound traffic on state Route 170 will be closed during the 2024 and 1015 construction season. Various intersections will be closed for 30 to 60 days.

* Lighting upgrades at the I-680 and Midlothian Boulevard interchange in the Youngstown and Boardman are scheduled to begin this month and end in October. The project cost is about $1.4 million.

* Replacement of two culverts on U.S. Route 224 just east of state Route 534 in Berlin Township is estimated to begin in May and end in August. The project cost is about $900,000. U.S. 224 will be closed for 15 days.

* Slope repairs on state Route 14, just west of Lisbon Road in Green Township, are expected to begin in June and end in September. The project cost is about $700,000. State Route 14 will be closed for 28 days