AUSTINTOWN - Idaho Road's connection to New Road has been considered a ''paper road'' - planned on the map but not paved - until earlier this week when construction began.
According to Mike Dockry, Austintown road supervisor, the road was platted years ago. It will officially open sometime next spring, depending on weather conditions.
"The great majority of township roads are put in by developers," Dockry said.
Article Photos
Charles Brown, left, of Foust Construction in Liberty, walks along a road being poured between Idaho and New roads in Austintown. The road will give more direct access to the Austintown Schools campus.
Tribune Chronicle photo / Brenda J. Linert
He said Idaho Road never needed to be completed until the school district recently relocated nearby between Idaho and Raccoon Roads.
The school district contacted the road department asking how they would be able to ease the flow of traffic, he said.
Austintown Schools Superintendent Vincent Colaluca said the district has a "great working relationship with the township." So after routine safety and traffic studies were made concerning the school's relocation, he contacted Dockry.
Extending Idaho road will help cut down traffic and is a "great asset working for community safety," Colaluca said.
Paving the 12 linear feet of road will cost $750,000. Dockry said the funding will come from several sources. $440,000 will be paid out of a school district's bond issue. A government Community Development Block grant will cover $100,000 of the project, while the Ohio Public Works Commission is paying $150,000. The Mahoning County Engineer will pay $10,000 for a traffic light to be installed on Idaho Road.
This leaves $50,000 to be paid from Austintown's general fund.
Currently, urban concrete has been laid, and the road is open for local traffic, but according to Dockry the road will not officially open until the spring after sidewalks are put in place.