News: Full Article

Public Works - May 9, 2023

The crosswalk construction at the East Front Street and South Champion Street intersection is now complete and through traffic has resumed on both streets. Application of a finish layer of pavement remains to be done, so the road surface is somewhat rough. Caution is recommended when driving through the intersection.

Additional crosswalk construction is underway at the south face of the West Front Street and South Phelps Street intersection. The work was delayed by Ohio Edison underground wiring work. South Phelps Street, south of West Front Street, is closed to motorists until the crosswalk concrete has been poured and cured.

Construction on Front Street, between Vindicator Square and South Avenue, is part of Phase 2 of the SMART2 project. These blocks have been redesigned to be safer and more accessible for users of multiple modes of transportation, including motorists, pedestrians, and bicyclists. Project design features include the following:

• Road Diet: Reducing the existing 5 vehicular lanes to 1 in each direction, plus left turn lanes, as needed.
• Bi-directional protected bike lanes (south side of street), with landscaped amenity strip separation from eastbound vehicular lane.
• Sidewalk improvements, including landscaped amenity strip separation from westbound vehicular lane.
• Safety and aesthetic improvements to crosswalks.
• Energy efficient and aesthetic street lighting.