By Megan Alley
Champion Media
Work on traffic pattern and signal adjustments on state Route 32 in the Eastgate area has been finished ahead of schedule, and all designated lanes of traffic are now open.
As a result of the changes, drivers heading westbound on state Route 32 are able to enter northbound or southbound Interstate 275 without stopping at an additional traffic signal.
The changes also give a dedicated lane for drivers turning left off of the northbound Interstate 275 exit ramp onto westbound state Route 32, and westbound through traffic doesn’t have to stop at the traffic signal east of Interstate 275.
Crews for the Ohio Department of Transportation started work on March 25, and the project was expected to be done by late May.
The traffic pattern and signal adjustments come as a response from ODOT to a recent series of crashes in the area, Brian Cunningham, communications manager for ODOT, said at the start of the project.
ODOT had been studying traffic in the area as it relates to a larger, big ticket project the agency is considering; the project would separate westbound Eastgate Boulevard traffic and westbound state Route 32 traffic with braided ramps that would allow for “a better configuration.”
“Once there were some congestion and crash issues that were brought to our attention, we kind of shifted that study to see … let’s take a look at what’s out there now, what could be done to alleviate this most recent infusion of crashes, congestion, backups, and things along those lines,” Cunningham said earlier.
Early planning, along with work crew mobilization and good weather early on, helped the project move along ahead of schedule, Cunningham explained.
The inside third lane of westbound state Route 32, from the two-lane section near Glen Este Withamsville Road to the northbound Interstate 275 ramp to state Route 32, will remain a long-term closure.
