The groaning can be heard already, as motorists who frequently pass through downtown Youngstown get word that yet more road reconstruction is set to begin on major passageways again next summer.

This time, the focus will be on Boardman Street between Walnut and Market streets and on Walnut Street between Front and Commerce streets. This $2.87 million project will kick off in summer and take more than a year to complete.

The good news is that of the estimated cost, some 70% of it is covered by state and federal grants with the city paying the rest.

We get it! The inconvenience is real. Downtown road work has been going on in earnest since 2020, adding up to more than $27 million.

But before we all get too huffy, we should pause and take a deep breath.

Let’s realize and give credit to city leaders for having the wherewithal to bring about the beautiful improvements that are resulting from these projects. We should recognize their efforts to transition our city into — to use the latest buzzword — “walkability.” Walkability, after all, is exactly what most millennials and Gen-Zers want in their communities. In this instance, the Mahoning Valley is not behind the eight-ball or trying to catch up with trends to attract young people to the city. In fact, the city actually is ahead of the curve, or at least right on track.

The latest announced upcoming road project is set to include repaving, reducing vehicular lanes, creating new and additional diagonal on-street parking, new crosswalks and curb ramps, improved lighting, landscaping, new traffic control signs and a mid-block crossing at Eastern Gateway Community College, Charles Shasho, Youngstown deputy director of public works.

When the most recently announced project is done, there will be one lane of traffic in each direction on both streets with turning lanes, he said.

“It’s a road diet to improve greenspace, increase pedestrian walkability and make vehicular traffic safer,” Shasho said.

Bravo! That’s exactly what we are talking about!

Yes, there will be growing pains, as there always are with road work. (We urge great patience!) But by the looks of downtown so far, it sure seems to be worth it.