by Kristin Casale
Stow Sentry Associate Editor
Stow -- "If you see barrels, it's for road widening that's going to take place," said Stow Assistant Engineer Jim McCleary of work that has started in the Steels Corners Road area.
"They're getting ready to widen the ramps and the bridge," he said, explaining the construction on Steels Corners Road is designed to ease access onto Route 8. "You have more traffic, more cars using the existing road. We will increase the level of service and decrease the time delays for traveling."
McCleary said the work, along with construction to widen a portion of Hudson Drive, is expected to "continue into November."
"Traffic's going to be maintained throughout the project," said McCleary, who explained some lanes will be narrowed to accommodate contractors, but no detours will be required and long delays are not expected.
As part of the project, the Steels Corners Road bridge will be widened to add a second left-turn lane to provide access to the southbound on-ramp for Route 8. The southbound on-ramp will be widened from one lane to two lanes, and a third turn lane will be added to the northbound off-ramp for Route 8.
Additionally, McCleary said, one lane will be added to Steels Corners Road between the street's intersections with Bridgewater Parkway and Hudson Drive. The lane will be added to the side of the road heading east.
Hudson Drive will be widened by one lane each in both directions in the area between Steels Corners Road and the section just past Stow Fire Station No. 2.
The cost to widen Steels Corners Road, the ramps and the portion of Hudson Drive will total approximately $5 million, according to McCleary. He said 80 percent of the project will be funded by the Federal Highway Administration, and the remainder will be financed by the city.
E-mail: kcasale@recordpub.com
Phone: 330-686-3917