Wadsworth readies new traffic signal, removing another

WADSWORTH — Finishing touches are being put on a traffic signal that's been a long-term goal for residents and Wadsworth officials. Supply chain difficulties have held up completion of the signal at Broad Street and Silvercreek Road, but the project has remained under budget with work expected to be completed soon, according to Wadsworth Public Service Director Robert Patrick. Last June, Wadsworth City Council authorized Patrick to seek bids for the work, which engineers estimated to cost roughly $230,000. With only $110,000 budgeted, the city chose a work model where it will handle certain aspects of construction in-house with the goal of keeping costs as close to that number as possible. "You've probably seen the work out there going on right now," Patrick told officials Wednesday. "They've done a good job of getting that equipment in and with all the work that's gone in out there. The activity in the past week has been to install the poles and mast arms and everything being connected." Specs for the finalized project include four traffic signals, new sidewalks, striping and curbing improvements, traffic cameras, a crosswalk and alignment with a nearby signal at Broad Street and Hartman Road to improve traffic efficiency. Studies in the past conducted by the Ohio Department of Transportation concluded that a signal was not needed at the corner but increased activity and development in the nearby area eventually spelled a different result. A consistent occurrence of vehicle crashes as well as long wait times at the corner have put a new signal on council's agenda for more than five years. Members of Council said last June that traffic problems have been exacerbated by flow coming out of Dollar General, 812 Broad St., and that the store has turned the corner into a de facto four-way intersection. At-large Councilman David Williams said when plans for Dollar General were presented to the city, project backers estimated the store would add about eight cars per hour to the intersection's traffic flow but that actual numbers have doubled and sometimes tripled that. Ward 1 Councilman Ralph Copley asked in June it if was possible to get a contribution from the store through a tax assessment. Patrick said he was not aware of any such talks. Signal being removed A traffic signal at the corner of High and Prospect streets will soon be removed after studies deemed it unnecessary. Patrick said the city is working to erect further signage indicating the change. "We're getting notes out to folks in the community," he said. "It's being removed because it's not warranted just like the signal at Silvercreek wasn't installed until it was warranted. When we find that one isn't needed, it's our duty to remove it. The process with a removal is pretty long with getting folks informed. We don't just go out there and take it down." The city is working with Wadsworth City Schools to install a new large flashing beacon at the crossing in consideration of the nearby Grizzly Club Preschool and Lincoln Elementary School, Patrick said. "The lights will be activated by a pedestrian to flash and let folks know someone is going to cross," he said. "That's the biggest concern we've had with the handful of folks who've reached out. Most people have seemed to understand why it's going away. Anyone can call us to get more information." Contact reporter Jonathan Delozier at (330)721-4050 or jdelozier@medina-gazette.com.