Submitted photo / Ohio Turnpike and Infrastructure Commission An aerial photo of the U.S. Route 224 bridge over the Ohio Turnpike at mile marker 227.6.

On Tuesday, a representative from the Ohio Turnpike Infrastructure Commission spoke to Canfield Township Trustees about plans to replace the U.S. Route 224 bridge in Canfield, a two-year project that is expected to start this summer.

“The bridge is 70 years old,” Meghan Gallagher, E-ZPass Retail Program Manager, told trustees.

She said the details of the project could be addressed by Charles Cyrill, director of marketing and communications for the commission.

Township Trustees Chairman Brian Governor said, “I am grateful for the information ahead of time.”

Cyrill said the project to replace the aged bridge is out for bid when he was contacted for comment after the meeting.

“For 2024, the Ohio Turnpike and Infrastructure Commission has a budget of about $254 million for capital improvement projects across the 241-mile toll road,” Cyrill said. “This figure includes nearly $238 million for projects beginning in 2024 and completing prior year projects.”

He said more than $162 million of that total has been allocated for roadway and bridge projects.

“About 92 lane miles of pavement will be resurfaced, the pavement at a toll plaza interchange will be reconstructed, and an extensive amount of work will be performed on 26 bridges,” he said.

The 224 bridge project resolution is expected to be approved by the Ohio Turnpike and Infrastructure Commission at the next meeting June 17. If approved at that meeting, work on the bridge is expected to begin this summer.

In July, contractors will be given access to the site.

“The project is expected to be completed by late November 2025,” Cyrill said. “The work will be performed over two construction seasons building each side of the new bridge in phases.”

Cyrill said two lanes of traffic will be maintained during the duration of the project on the Ohio Turnpike mainline. Temporary lane closures will occur on the Ohio Turnpike during the overhead bridge work. Traffic on U.S. Route 224 will be maintained with one lane of traffic in each direction once the demolition begins on the existing bridge.

The project will be funded through the tolls collected on the Ohio Turnpike.

Cyrill said it is common practice to inform communities where projects are taking place.

“Staff from the Ohio Turnpike and Infrastructure Commission in Berea, Ohio, meet regularly with local and county officials to provide advance notice of the construction projects and to discuss the impact of the Ohio Turnpike’s roadway, pavement, and bridge projects, including management of traffic, detour routes, emergency and safety procedures, and to address other concerns,” he said.

The 224 bridge was built in 1954 and was rehabilitated in 1989. The new bridge will be about the same size, which is roughly 60 feet wide.

Other Turnpike projects that will take place in Mahoning County include mainline resurfacing and the completion of pavement work at the Eastgate Toll Plaza (milepost 239).

Residents who have questions about the projects can contact the Ohio Turnpike and Infrastructure Commission at 440-234-2081 or 440-971-2222 or they can visit the website at www.ohioturnpike.org.