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Stark Project to Start in 2006: Stretch of Fulton Road Will Widen to Five Lanes

Posted on: Thursday, 22 December 2005, 09:00 CST

By Rick Armon, The Akron Beacon Journal, Ohio, The Akron Beacon Journal, Ohio

Dec. 22--A busy portion of Fulton Drive in Jackson and Plain townships will be widened next year to ease traffic congestion.

Stark County commissioners Tuesday approved spending $5.18 million to expand the roadway from two to five lanes between Everhard and Hills and Dales roads. The work is expected to begin in April and continue into 2007.

The road -- used by about 17,000 vehicles a day -- is too clogged with traffic, especially at rush hour, county Engineer Michael Rehfus said. Experts recommend extra lanes when the number of vehicles hits 12,000 a day, he added.

The new Fulton will include two eastbound and two westbound lanes, and a center turn lane.

Nearly $1 million was spent in acquiring private property for the project, Rehfus said.

Many people who work along Fulton are pleased the road will be widened.

"There's always traffic backed up," said Linda Kirkpatrick, parish administrator at St. Stephen Martyr Lutheran Church at Fulton and Dressler roads. Motorists often have difficulty pulling out of the church parking lot onto Fulton and that can cause safety problems, she said.

"In my opinion, yes, the project needs to be done," she said.

The county intends to keep at least one lane open in each direction during construction. As part of the project, the Ohio Department of Transportation plans to resurface Fulton from Interstate 77 to Hills and Dales Road.

Rick Armon can be reached at 330-996-3569 or rarmon@thebeaconjournal.com

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Copyright (c) 2005, The Akron Beacon Journal, Ohio

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Source: Akron Beacon Journal (Akron, Ohio)

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