ELYRIA — The $20 million state Route 57 reconstruction project will get a little worse before it gets better this week.With intersection repair work going on from Cleveland Street to West River Road, motorists are finding themselves stuck in traffic longer than usual.

They aren’t alone.

City Engineer Mukund Moghe said he drove the route Wednesday afternoon, and it took him 20 minutes longer than usual. But he’s taking it all in stride — advice he hopes motorists will heed as well.

BRUCE BISHOP / CHRONICLE

Heavy traffic, standing water and construction is slowing the state Route 57 project a bit, but the majority of work is expected to be done before winter.

“It’s a part of construction, and it’s to be expected,” he said.

This week’s issue is the concrete joint repairs that are costing the city $600,000 more than what initially was budgeted. Many are located at intersections but dot the thoroughfare in a checker pattern. As a result, traffic this week is being weaved through lanes while some turning lanes are closed and through lanes are narrowed.

Police officers have been called in to direct traffic at two bogged down intersections: at Cleveland Street and at Abbe Road. Moghe said crews will work down the route until they reach and complete the West River Road and Furnace Street intersection.

“Once the intersections are complete, travel should be a lot smoother,” Moghe said. “We just have to get through this.”

Crews are also contending with pockets of standing water along the route that to passing motorists resemble mini-ponds. They are not slowing up work and so far pose no health threats, Moghe said.

The pools formed because the ditch work is under way, and the drains aren’t clear. Once they are, the water should subside, he said.

While some residents have called the Engineer’s Office to ask why the work can’t be done at night or when traffic is lighter, Moghe said the option won’t work because no matter when the work is done, fresh concrete has to set for 24 hours before it can be driven on.

Moghe said motorists should keep in mind that there is light at the end of the tunnel. Work is going according to schedule, and the Shelly Co. is still vowing to have pavement down on all four lanes by winter.

While it won’t be the totally smoothed out, the finished project that can be expected in 2009 will be drivable and better than the pothole-pocked path of last winter.

Contact Lisa Roberson at 329-7121 or lroberson@chroniclet.com.

---

Print this story
Report an inappropriate comment

---

In order to comment, you must agree to our user agreement and discussion guidelines.

Need help? Email Us.

---