Howland construction reaction: ‘I don’t like it’
Businesses, drivers already feel impact of ODOT project
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HOWLAND -- As the state began demolishing the westbound bridge over state Route 46 on Sunday night, businesses opened Monday with some comments about the diverging diamond construction and how it may affect them.
Route 46 under state Route 82 will be closed for demolition through Thursday morning, according to Ray Marsch, spokesman for the Ohio Department of Transportation.
Some business owners and customers suggested that the traffic is "already bad enough," and the construction likely will have a negative effect on the flow of traffic.
Dan Engle, owner of DNC Computers and Smartphone Repair, explained traffic jams already have created difficulty navigating near his store at 170 Mayflower Road SE. "It's starting to build up traffic," Engle said, "which may make people not want to be out and about. Most of 46, East Market Street and Howland Wilson Road is all backed up."
Engle said, "We also do house calls for repairs, so it will affect us." DNC employees travel within a 10-mile radius for house calls.
Linda Spain, a sales associate at Gorant Candies in Howland Center, said, "I don't like it. It doesn't make any sense. We're not a big city and the traffic is already bad enough. I especially feel bad for those school buses trying to get around."
An employee of Salon One, 8050 E. Market St., said the construction will impact clientele, and appointment arrival times for employees and customers.
One customer who lives on Broadway Avenue said things could possibly have worked out better for residents if the state considered reducing the speed limit.
"I don't want them using our tax dollars," she added. "The area is always jammed, especially during the holidays. So imagine what it will be like once we get closer to the season. I mean, we had a population of 65,000; now we're at 40,000. So how do you justify trying to build something like this, like we're Columbus or Cincinnati? Why put that in the middle of Howland? And light change doesn't help with rush hour. Coming from where I live, I get it from both ends, and this is just the beginning. Between 3 p.m. to 6 p.m., I can't even get out of my street."
Niles Jimmy Johns delivery driver Darren Shiley of Champion, said his work days will be more difficult as the state continues to reconstruct the road.
The store is located at 2385 Niles Cortland Road SE. Jimmy Johns General Manager Oliver Lacey said the delivery range is typically within five minutes, and that time is more important than the distance.
Sitting south of state Route 82, Lacey said anything beyond the closed site "may be an issue.
"I drive tonight, so I'll have to figure it out," Shiley, 19, said. "We're usually supposed to get them (orders) out within 20 minutes. And all the way out there, I don't know if we're going to be able to do that. That would add a bunch more time on to my deliveries."
Dr. Ken Jones, an orthopedic surgeon with Steward Medical Group, said his practice located at 1552 North Road SE has always seen traffic, but the diverging diamond construction will probably create more.
"Today, it was backed up to the McDonald's and my patients couldn't get into the office," Jones said. "It's just certain areas. I know that the gas stations on the corner are seeing less traffic, because no one can go on Route 82. Now, I'm probably the only business between McDonald's and 422, and if they close going that way, that's one of the only ways to get over to the mall, and it'll just be packed."
As for the holiday season, Jones said as long as Route 46 remains open, things should be "OK."
Overall, Jones added, "In my opinion, I've driven on lots of diverging diamonds and they work really well." He continued, "And it's needed, because that intersection, and Howland Wilson Road above it, are awful. A lot of accidents, so we need to do something, but it's painful."