HOWLAND — Starting this afternoon, motorists traveling along state Route 82 will see some changes as demolition work will begin on the westbound bridge over state Route 46.

Ray Marsch, an Ohio Department of Transportation spokesman, said starting at 2 p.m. today through Thursday morning, Route 46 under Route 82 will be closed for bridge demolition. Marsch said traffic will flow on the eastbound bridge in both directions as work takes place to tear down the westbound bridge. He said that bridge’s reconstruction will be completed by summer 2024.

He said once the new westbound bridge is completed, traffic will be moved to it as work takes place to then demolish the eastbound bridge.

“The crews will be out Sunday doing work on the bridge. The crews will be working on the weekend so we are able to get state Route 46 open as quickly as possible,” Marsch said.

The recommended detours for those traveling north or south on Route 46 are:

• Northbound traffic on Route 46 will travel east on Route 82 to state Route 193 and then Route 82 west to Route 46.

• Southbound traffic on Route 46 will travel on Route 82 west to Elm Road and then Route 82 to Route 46.

PROJECT OVERVIEW

Groundbreaking for the project was Sept. 13 and work is set to be completed by the end of summer 2026.

The long-discussed diverging diamond project at the intersection of state Routes 46 and 82 will involve traffic having to be rerouted to other parts of the township as different phases of the project take place.

ODOT officials said the project will mean Routes 46 and 82 will have daily lane restrictions on Route 46 between Market Street and U.S. Route 422, and Route 82 between Elm Road and Howland Wilson Road. The ramp from East Market Street to Route 82 will be closed through November 2024. The detour will be East Market Street to Route 46 to Route 82.

ODOT officials have said the project is one of the biggest at $20.4 million to be launched this year in the Mahoning Valley.

It is the third diverging diamond in the state. ODOT said the other two are in Columbus and Toledo.

The state said a lot of congestion and a numerous crashes occur on those ramps at Routes 46 and 82. ODOT considers the diverging diamond safer and more efficient for high traffic areas because it involves no left turns against oncoming traffic.

Appearing diamond-shaped from above, the interchange involves traffic switching sides of the road temporarily, which in the case of Routes 46 and 82 is meant to allow easier access on ramps.

SAFETY CREWS

Assistant Howland fire Chief Ray Pace said with three fire stations in different parts of Howland, there will be no problem continuing to provide coverage.

He said for areas south of Route 82 at Route 46, there is the Ridge Road station in the Bolindale area. Pace said the main fire station on Route 46 also can respond by taking East Market Street to North Road.

“This will not affect our response since we have three fire stations. None of the residents will see any change in the fire protection. We will still be able to respond and get to calls,” Pace said.

Pace said fire officials from Howland and Warren have been in contact with ODOT to stay informed as the project proceeds.