by Miles Jung-Kilbreath
Reporter
Streetsboro -- As a section of Route 303 was closed to traffic March 14 due to flooding over the both lanes of traffic, District 68 State Representative Kathleen Chandler met with city officials on possible funding options to keep the waters at bay.
"Since it's a state highway that it should be the state's responsibility," Chandler said at the meeting at City Hall.
Ward 4 Council member Nick Funari and Council President Pete Buczkowski met with Chandler to discuss funding options for fixing flooding problems on the road between the Target store and Stone Road.
Buczkowski said the bypass area has had flooding problems for at least 40 years.
Chandler agreed with a 2006 stormwater study by the ARCADIS engineering firm, which suggested a $12.3 million, two-section floating bridge along the route could keep the road open and safe for residents and commuters during and after heavy rains.
Chandler said she's concerned with the safety of the short bypass of Route 303 located near the Hickory Ridge subdevelopment. She said she traveled the bypass on the way to the March 14 meeting.
Chandler said she plans to meet with representatives from the Ohio Department of Transportation about funding options for building a floating bridge along the bypass. She also said she would check to make sure the bridge project was listed with the Akron Metropolitan Area Transportation Study, which would be needed to help secure state funding.
The best chance for the city to receive state funds to build the bridge, according to Chandler, is the passage of a $1.7 billion bond that the governor's office hopes to place on the November general election ballot.
Chandler said the bond revenue can only be used to help "provide future job growth in the state" with $400 million earmarked for infrastructure improvements, like a possible bridge on Route 303.
She said it's possible revenue could be used to help repair sections of Frost Road, as well.
"The idea [for the bond] is to get people jobs in ways that will have a residual effect in helping even more people get work," Chandler said.
Funari said that he believes that if the city is unable to secure funds from the bond issue to build the bridge that the city "may never be able to get the road fixed."
Chandler said she would contact the city after meeting with ODOT once the state legislature reconvenes after the Easter holiday.
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