About 50 people filtered in and out of Stow City Hall Jan. 24 for a public information open house about the Graham Road widening project that would affect Stow, Cuyahoga Falls and Silver Lake.

The project is a popular topic of conversation among residents, especially in Cuyahoga Falls because people are unhappy about the possibility of Krieger’s losing space in its parking lot.

Construction is expected to cost $4.3 million, of which $3.9 million is being provided by federal funds, said Brad Kosco of the Stow Engineering Department.

The proposed project will not result in substantial impacts to environmental resources and during construction, temporary lane closures will be required but one lane in each direction shall remain open and access shall be maintained to all residences and business establishments, he said.

Click here for details of the project.

Comments during the meeting:

• Bob Adaska of Stow said his "objection is why wait for engineering to widen the road when we should be more concerned about the condition of the current road? It needs to be updated and resurfaced now."
• Martin Pangrace, attorney for Krieger’s, said he hopes “Stow and Cuyahoga Falls find a possible alternative to widening the road … or at least an alternative by widening to the south instead of the north end.”
• Bill Evans, a small, home business owner in Cuyahoga Falls, said the project is at the “wrong time and the wrong place. Small businesses today should not be hassled in any way possible unless they are taking the public for a ride … in this case it appears that the public is being taken for a ride by the state, federal and two municipalities. I question whether this is necessary.”

Four different tables were set up during the meeting with representatives from Arcadis Engineering, URS the city’s environmental consultant, administrators from Cuyahoga Falls and administrators from Stow.

Stow Engineer Jim McCleary said the plan is to bid out the project in 2012 and start construction in 2013.

“Every intersection is different,” said McCleary. “We’re required by [the Ohio Department of Transportation] to widen any intersection to 58 feet.”

But, the entire project isn’t just to widen the Graham Road, he said.

“Some areas we aren’t widening at all … some resurfacing and paving will be improved,” McCleary said.

Several residents voiced their opinion against the possibility of Krieger’s losing a parking space when the project moves forward.

“If you’re talking about the amount after the redesign, Cuyahoga Falls is showing [Krieger’s] will have one less parking space,” said McCleary.

Pangrace contests on behalf of Krieger’s that “at least 18 existing parking spaces” will be wiped out to make room for the intersection widening.

Keep checking Stow Patch for updates on the project.

The city is accepting statements about the project until Jan. 11. To receive a statement form, visit city hall.