What’s going on with the massillon road project in greene
- Procurement issues contribute to extending the project by 6 months
- “We pay every day to get this done,” says Green Mayor.
- The mayor expects some relief from the newly constructed corridors
Construction on Green’s $7.9 million Massillon Road South project is about to enter a new phase, with traffic patterns shifting as the city upgrades the high-traffic road.
On Thursday, the city will meet with businesses affected by a traffic switch that will flip construction from one side of the road to the other.
When the project began last year, the city got together with the Menches Bros. business owners. To hold a meeting to discuss the impact of the project.
Here are some things you should know about the project.
South Massillon Road Project in Turning Green Lanes
The city says the east side of the road is expected to be complete by Memorial Day.
When that happens, drivers will travel along the newly constructed surface as construction moves to the west side.
Mayor Gerard Neugebauer said he believes the switch should provide some relief to drivers and businesses on the east side of the road.
It is a busy stretch of sidewalk
In a meeting last year with the companies, Neugebauer said the project area handles about 24,000 vehicles per day, making it one of the most traveled areas in the region.
more:Green prepares for another run with traffic problems as Massillon Road is about to be repaired
The city completed the Massillon Road North project in 2021, and this section has been handling about 17,000 vehicles per day.
The city of roundabouts
As it did with the Massillon Road North project, the city is adding intersections, which will help traffic flow and avoid the creation of new lanes.
Neugebauer, himself an engineer, has long advocated circular constructions and embraced the city’s circular reputation.
more:Green attracts statewide lights for circular traffic planning
Construction fatigue
Neugebauer said he realizes drivers and businesses in the busy lane are nervous about the construction. Projects on Massillon Road North or South have been ongoing since May 2020.
more:Building a green Massillon road is quickly moving into the final stages
“In general, people are tired of the construction work on Massillon Road,” said the mayor.
The good news: Once the current project is completed, there are no projects planned for Massillon Road “for the foreseeable future,” he said.
Procurement issues postpone the completion date by six months
The city had hoped to keep the project on a tight 18-month schedule, but supply issues early on pushed the completion date back about six months. Neugebauer now expects the project to be completed in the summer of 2024, though a series of favorable weather and good luck could shorten that time.
more:Green is dealing with supply issues to keep the South Massillon Road project moving forward
“We’re looking for opportunities to speed that up,” he said. “We’re trying to eliminate any such delays.” “We pay every day to get it done.”
Much of the delay, he said, came from what was happening underground, giving the appearance of slow progress on the road itself. But drivers should see improvements when the newly paved lanes open on June 1.
“This next phase will open up better access to those businesses on the East Side,” he said. “…we think traffic will improve in this next phase.”
Leave a message for Alan Ashworth at 330-996-3859 or email him at[email protected]. Follow him on Twitter at @newsalanbeaconj.
