COLUMBUS, Ohio – The Ohio Controlling Board approved more than $1.35 million in roadwork development funds Monday for projects in the cities of Youngstown and Columbiana.
In Youngstown, the $1.28 million grant will go toward construction of 950 linear feet of roadway connecting the intersection of U.S. Route 62 and Albert Street to North Garland Avenue, improving truck access in the Crab Creek Industrial Corridor.
The Western Reserve Port Authority spent $1.18 million for property acquisition and remediation. That included $560,963 in cleanup funds from the state of Ohio, $160,817 for Phase I and Phase II environmental assessments and $250,000 from the city of Youngstown’s American Rescue Plan allocation for the 2nd Ward.
The grant to Youngstown will cover just over half of the estimated $2.5 million cost of the connector, which will improve access to a 32-acre site owned by the port authority that includes the former McGuffey Mall property.
The $75,000 approved for Columbiana will be used to relocate the truck entrance to R&L Carriers’ 1320 Heck Road facility. The new entrance will realign Nulf drive and will be located 270 feet to the west of the existing entrance. It will involve repairing approximately 1,100 linear feet of the road, beginning at the new intersection and continuing north to Columbiana-New Castle Road.
The additional roadwork will improve accessibility and traffic flow from R&L Carriers to state Route 14. Semitrucks traveling toward Route 14 are required to make a left turn before curving right to the entrance.
According to state documents, 40 full-time equivalent jobs will be created and 480 jobs retained by the Columbiana project. No direct job commitments were associated with the Youngstown project.
Pictured at top: The site of the former McGuffey Mall property is seen in this image captured from video. (Western Reserve Port Authority)