BOARDMAN The Ohio Department of Transportation on Thursday announced changes to its plan to improve safety on U.S. Route 224 in Boardman Township, a move resulting from public feedback collected earlier this year. The project, which covers a 1.70-mile stretch of the heavily traveled road between Market Street and Tiffany Boulevard, is an attempt to tackle a high number of crashes and traffic jams in the area.

The need for this work stems from the corridor’s history of traffic incidents. Between 2013 and 2017, a total of 1,877 crashes occurred in the project area. More than 30 percent of those crashes led to an injury, and three involved fatalities. Traffic data shows the main crash types are rear-end collisions (60 percent), left-turn crashes (14 percent), and sideswipe-passing accidents (11 percent). ODOT attributes many of these to congestion and the number of left turns drivers attempt to make.

The initial plan recommended several general changes to improve the corridor:

  • Adding more through lanes for vehicles traveling east and west.
  • Creating dedicated turn lanes at major intersections.
  • Removing traffic signals at two intersections to improve overall traffic flow.
  • Reducing the number of business and residential driveways that allow unrestricted access onto the route.
  • Limiting left-turning movements onto and off Route 224.
  • Adding new or better sidewalks and crosswalks for people walking.

ODOT held a virtual public open house between January 29, 2024, and March 1, 2024, receiving feedback from several participants. This public input, combined with earlier meetings, influenced several changes to the initial proposal.

A common theme in the comments was concern about business access and the use of U-turn movements. The original plan proposed new center medians and a system of designated U-turn locations to replace left turns into many driveways. Residents and business owners worried about how this would affect customer access and traffic flow onto and off residential streets.

Another frequent comment focused on pedestrian safety, with many participants asking for more complete sidewalks and safer crosswalks along the entire route.

ODOT’s announced changes adjust several aspects of the original design, focusing on maintaining access while still improving safety.

Instead of a solid concrete median that was first proposed, ODOT will install what is described as “a channelizing device” in the center of Route 224. This change will allow eastbound drivers to still make left turns into Sheldon Avenue and Marinthana Avenue.

However, access from those two side streets onto Route 224 will be restricted. Sheldon Avenue and Marinthana Avenue will be converted to "all-in/right-out only" movements, meaning drivers can only turn right onto Route 224 from those streets. The originally planned eastbound U-turn at Marinthana Avenue will be removed.

This section saw significant adjustments to address concerns from area residents, particularly those on Tanglewood Drive.

At the Southern Boulevard intersection, a protected westbound left-turn phase will be added. This means a dedicated signal will allow westbound drivers to turn left safely.

A passenger car U-turn will be allowed at this same intersection to help accommodate access to Tanglewood Drive and properties on the north side of Route 224.

Like the Marinthana change, Tanglewood Drive itself will be converted to an all-in/right-out only access point.

Some residents, like one identifying as a Tanglewood Resident, previously voiced concerns that the original plan would "severely inhibit traffic flow" off Tanglewood Drive. The addition of the U-turn at Southern Boulevard is intended to address this worry by giving drivers a clear, designated path to head east.

Originally, ODOT proposed removing the traffic signal at the Applewood Commons shopping center. Following feedback, ODOT has decided to retain the traffic signal at Applewood Commons.

Further changes in this area include:

  • Removing a proposed westbound U-turn near the Shops West drive.
  • Removing a proposed eastbound U-turn near Shops East/Applewood Boulevard.

The signal at Shops East/Applewood Boulevard will be updated with a protected/permissive northbound left turn phase to better manage traffic entering the shopping area.

The final segment of the project sees a change from a proposed concrete median to a channelizing device in the center of Route 224, matching the adjustment made near Market Street. Additionally, a proposed eastbound U-turn at South Avenue has been removed.

New curb ramps, pedestrian signal heads, and a crosswalk are proposed on the west side of the Tiffany Boulevard intersection, ensuring better access for pedestrians in this area.

Throughout the comment period, safety for walkers was a recurring theme. Comments like "More sidewalks! Better crosswalks! I love this idea," from a participant named Julia, and "Sidewalks for safety!" from Amanda Ford, highlighted the need for improved non-vehicle facilities.

ODOT has confirmed that the project plans to fill in gaps in the sidewalk network on the south side of Route 224 to provide continuous connectivity. High-visibility crosswalks will be installed at select intersections, with movements across Route 224 being push-button activated for safety. The agency is also ensuring compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) throughout the design and construction phases.

The revised plan moves the project closer to the construction phase, which is currently anticipated to begin in the spring of 2026 and wrap up in the fall of 2027.