Police inform the public of road closures in Mingo Junction

HEAVY LIFT — A crane supported the replacement project Thursday for the Wheeling and Lake Erie Railroad train bridge over state Route 7. The project has resulted in the closure of a portion of South Commercial Street from the Cool Spring Road intersection to the Mingo Junction Water Department. –Christopher Dacanay

MINGO JUNCTION – Police are advising the public of traffic disruptions in and around the village of Mingo Junction caused by ongoing construction projects on State Route 7.

On Tuesday, Mingo Junction police issued an advisory regarding several entrances, exits and roads in the village that have been temporarily closed to all traffic or specific vehicle types.

The closures come as part of three different but concurrent projects covering an approximately two-mile stretch of Route 7, which passes through the village. Projects include the replacement of an overhead train bridge overseen by Wheeling and Lake Erie Railroad, the rehabilitation of the Ohio Department of Transportation bridge on Route 7 over Logan Avenue, and ODOT’s remediation on a hill overlooking Route 7.

The closures have made entering and leaving the village difficult, especially for residents of certain areas who need to come and go, Police Chief Willie McKenzie III said Thursday.

“It’s so much development for such a small village, all squeezed together, and it makes it difficult for anyone to get in and out of Mingo,” McKenzie said. “I understand all the frustrations but we just ask everyone to be patient and follow the rules as it is all for the betterment of the community and to ensure it is safer to drive on the highways and over bridges .”

Shopping street South

According to the advisory, South Commercial Street is closed to all vehicles from the Cool Spring Road intersection to the Mingo Junction Water Department.

McKenzie said this area, the 1500 block of Commercial Street, was closed to make room for a crane that would be used for the Wheeling and Lake Erie train bridge project. The area is expected to reopen sometime today, he added.

With work beginning Oct. 14, the bridge replacement will maintain one lane on Route 7 in each direction with a 10-foot width restriction for approximately 0.25 miles. The project has received approval from ODOT to work over Route 7 and is expected to be completed by December 31.

Mingo Junction Police advise all semi-trucks heading to JSW Steel to take Route 7 south to the Commercial Street exit to reach the facility.

McKenzie said this closure has been especially detrimental to residents of the 2000 block of Commercial Street who, instead of using the Commercial Street exit, must continue to the Route 151 exit and travel north to their homes .

Route 7

Southbound on Route 7, the Murdock Avenue ramp is closed to all traffic, according to the advisory.

The southbound Murdock Avenue exit from Route 7 remains open, McKenzie said, although he advised all motorists to approach the sharp curve slowly and maintain a clear distance from other vehicles.

Northbound on Route 7, the Murdock Avenue entrance and exit and the Commercial Street entrance and exit are closed to all traffic.

Logan Avenue

The advisory originally noted that Logan Avenue was closed to all semi-trucks, but as of Thursday, Logan Avenue appeared open and there was no indication of a vehicle restriction.

McKenzie said work on the bridge had previously made the area dangerous for semi-trucks. However, on Wednesday conditions had changed so much that a small number of trucks were able to use the area as a diversion point without any problems.

ODOT’s bridge replacement project began on March 4 and is expected to be completed on November 30. Since March 11, one lane in each direction with a width restriction of 3 meters has been maintained.

Traffic lights on Logan Avenue caused this “very bad” wait times for motorists, with wait times between three and five minutes, McKenzie said. However, as the work is expected to be completed within a month, McKenzie added “we are at the finish line.”

Separately, McKenzie warned all semi-trucks to pay attention to the train bridge in the 900 block of Commercial Street, which runs from South Commercial Street to downtown. Even in recent weeks, many trucks have attempted to pass under the bridge but have become stuck or suffered heavy damage.

The bridge itself lists the northbound height as 11 feet, 6 inches, while the southbound height is 13 feet, 6 inches.

McKenzie also warned all motorists traveling from Commercial Street to Route 7 to pay close attention before merging. Several collisions have occurred at this location in the past month, with one person hospitalized following an accident on Wednesday.

The northbound portion of Route 7 where Commercial Street meets is limited to one lane with a 16-foot width restriction, according to OHGO, ODOT’s real-time traffic and road conditions reporting tool. That area is part of the hillside remediation project zone, where traffic stops occur periodically for construction purposes, including on weekdays at noon for controlled explosions.

Today’s latest news and more in your inbox