If you're driving around Struthers, you may notice construction throughout downtown.

That's because of two projects starting in the city at the same time.

construction is ready to start, and is expected to last throughout the summer. 

Most of the streets under construction will be narrowed, but remain open. But one main road will close for a week.

Robert Benson, safety service director for the city of Struthers, said he expects the construction to affect traffic.

“There will be congestion and slowing down for the next at least month, month and a half, where lane restrictions aren't stopped, but they've narrowed,” said Benson.

Benson said drivers can expect some roads to be narrowed in Struthers from now until August.

Next week, a $1.6 million water replacement project by Aqua is starting its second phase. At the same time, Enbridge is replacing gas lines near downtown.

“We’re really trying to coordinate with the gas companies' project, with the local authorities, and the local business. So, the schedule is influx and we are trying to coordinate. One of the things we don’t want to do is dig up a street and have the gas company come in a couple weeks later and dig it up again,” said Jeff La Rue, spokesperson for Aqua.

Some streets in Struthers are already under construction.

“616 is a nice wide street. It’s been narrowed to two ten foot lanes to keep traffic flowing in both directions during the construction process. A ten foot lane is probably the minimum requirement for a state law,” said Benson.

These projects are happening during the five month Wetmore drive closure for a bridge replacement. The city safety service director feels this could lead to a busy downtown.

“That detour is detouring traffic through our downtown area into this zone. So, that increases our traffic flow, which normally with day to day traffic is over 5,000 cars a day through that area,” said Benson.

Some of the roads that will be under construction are bridge street, Bob Cene Way, Main Street and Liberty Street.