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HUBBARD TOWNSHIP -- Infrastructure expansion could be coming to the township in the next five to 10 years.
Trustee William Colletta told residents at Tuesday's regular meeting that he recently attended a meeting with Eastgate Regional Council of Governments, a voluntary association of local governments in northeastern Ohio, about expanding the State Route 304-Interstate 80 interchange.
Colletta explained that Eastgate representatives want to "tap into" the Crab Creek Corridor leading from Youngstown into 304, by adding an additional access point that would go into Youngstown-Hubbard road.
Colletta said that the project is still in its preliminary stages, but anticipates residents will see it come to fruition as soon as the state, government and Eastgate get on board.
Trustee Richard Hernandez recalled a meeting about the project happening when he was first elected as trustee several years ago, noting its planning dates back at least six years.
"Actually, I think that this is closer than you think, this is on the radar as being probably the next one of their biggest projects moving forward - to put an exit right off of the interstate onto 304, opening up that whole corridor there," Hernandez said. "Youngstown wants this to happen. Liberty wants this to happen. We would be the beneficiary of all this to happen."
Adding another exit would cut down on activity around Truck World, an area notorious for accidents, Hernandez added.
Colletta said the township doesn't have the money to fund the project. But if entities like Eastgate want it, it will happen.
"It's not like we have a dream and we got to go chase the money. The money is chasing us," Colletta said.
All the high-tech developers do not want supplying places, housing or manufacturers next to their developments, they want them within a two-hour circle around Columbus, he added, and they feel the area's road structure makes it a "prime location" for it.