Correspondent photo / Amanda Smith Michael Simpkins, construction engineer for the Ohio Department of Transportation District 4, at podium, explains construction projects ODOT will oversee in Mahoning and Trumbull counties this year. Joining him Tuesday were, from left, Gery Noirot, deputy director, ODOT District 4; Lt. Benjamin Dennison, Ohio State Highway Patrol Canfield Post; and Jim Kinnick, executive director of Eastgate Regional Council of Governments.

YOUNGSTOWN — More than $137 million in road construction projects are planned in the Mahoning Valley this year, with detours, ramp closures and permanent traffic changes expected across the region.

Ohio Department of Transportation officials outlined the projects Tuesday during a District 4 construction kickoff event downtown, where they said drivers should expect significant impacts, particularly along Interstate 680 and key corridors in Boardman, Austintown and Howland.

“The work we do is essential, but it also carries real risks both for our crews, the construction industry and for the traveling public. As we head into another busy construction year, our commitment is simple and unwavering. Every worker goes home safely at the end of every shift,” said Gery Noirot, P.E. deputy director of District 4. “That requires vigilance, clear communication, and strict adherence to our work zone practices.”

Michael Simpkins, district construction engineer, highlighted several major projects.

He said ongoing I-680 reconstruction will require detouring northbound traffic using U.S. 62, U.S. 422 and state Route 193, while southbound traffic will be shifted to allow crews to rebuild lanes. The work also includes multiple ramp closures and is expected to continue through 2028.

Beyond the interstate work, drivers will see permanent changes to local freeway entrances and intersections. A ramp from Mahoning Avenue to southbound I-680 has been permanently closed, for example.

“Every time you introduce a ramp … that has a potential for accidents. So, minimizing

those without providing disruption to the traveling public is always a benefit,” he said.

DIVERGING DIAMOND

Similarly, drivers will see changes around the diverging-diamond interchange at state Routes 46 and 82 in Howland. The traffic signal at Route 82 and Howland-Wilson Road will be removed, and access will be restricted. Motorists approaching Route 82 from Howland-Wilson Road will be limited to right turns.

“Howland-Wilson was always identified as an area that needed to be worked on,” Simpkins said.

To help manage traffic, ODOT plans additional improvements along state Route 46, including new and extended turn lanes at Warren-Sharon Road and East Market Street.”We’re going to be adding turn lanes … to get people through there more efficiently,” Simpkins said.

ODOT is studying ways to help change driver behavior at the diverging diamond itself. Simpkins said the interchange is functioning well overall, but some drivers are not using all available lanes, particularly on the eastbound Route 82 exit onto Route 46.

“There are two lanes to go right in there. Everybody wants to use that right-hand lane,” he said. “That can create slowdowns. ODOT will work on ways to improve the corridor over the coming months.”

Other major projects include rehabilitation work on Interstates 76 and 80, where closures at major interchanges could last from a weekend up to 45 days; a safety project on U.S. Route 224 in Boardman that will change driveway access and add turn lanes and medians; and a large repaving project on U.S. Route 62 in Brookfield to the Pennsylvania state line.

Officials said drivers should plan ahead and use available tools to avoid delays.

“We understand that construction and driver frustration go hand in hand,” Simpkins said.

He urged drivers to use GPS navigation apps or ODOT’s OHGO system for real-time updates on crashes, closures and traffic conditions.

“Most people don’t use their navigation apps when they’re just going on their daily commute,” Simpkins said. “If you use those apps, it will send you a push notification so that you can reroute accordingly and minimize your frustrations.”