HOWLAND — Residents have expressed concerns to township officials about proposed plans by the Ohio Department of Transportation to change the intersection at state Route 82 and Howland Wilson Road by removing all left-turn lanes.

Resident Bruce Gump told trustees he is concerned that once the intersection is altered, more traffic will be routed to Howland Springs Road, creating problems there.

Gump said motorists coming west from state Route 11 will have to travel along state Route 82 down the hill to state Route 46, and then make a left and head south under Route 82 through several traffic lights by Lowe’s and Sam’s Club — and then try to make a left across two lanes of traffic onto Howland Springs.

“Often the traffic is backed up in both directions because of all the traffic lights,” he said.

Gump said when the ODOT project is underway at Route 82 and Howland Wilson, there also will need to be a traffic light for Howland Springs Road because so much traffic will be rerouted there.

“I can see a tremendous amount of problems with all the left-turn traffic. Many people avoid turning left off Howland Springs Road on southbound state Route 46 to avoid the many dangers. If that intersection is cut off, it will force more traffic to come down Howland Springs Road. I see potential problems with traffic that could arise by changing the intersection,” he said.

Gump said Howland Springs School also is near where traffic will be rerouted.

He said he does agree the intersection of Route 82 and Howland Wilson is busy and dangerous.

“I don’t think we will make it better by forcing traffic down to Howland Springs,” he said.

Gump did praise ODOT’s plans for a diverging diamond project at state Routes 46 and 82, which he believes will improve traffic flow through the intersection.

Township Planning Director Kim Mascarella said the project is needed for the safety of the traveling public due to many accidents at the location. Township Administrator Darlene St. George agreed the Route 82 and Howland Wilson intersection has been a safety concern.

Trustee Matt Vansuch encouraged residents, especially those who live in the area, to provide comments to ODOT.

“ODOT has been extremely receptive to our concerns and comments on this. They are not dismissing our concerns. We have been at the table in Akron on this and plan to keep the conversation in front of ODOT,” St. George said.

She said she expects there will be other adjustments made with the different intersection projects.

Project construction is expected to begin in spring 2025 and last approximately six months.

The project is still in the preliminary stages that includes surveys, environmental studies and other engineering and design tasks.

Comments can be made on the ODOT website through the comment submittal form or by contacting Sean Carpenter at 330-786-2274 or by email at Sean.Carpenter@dot.ohio.gov. Comments will be accepted through March 5.