Summit County: Road rage over unopened interchange

STOW -- A long-awaited road project on State Route 8 in Summit County was given the green light to open two weeks ago by the Ohio Department of Transportation.

But the new interchange at Seasons Road is still blocked off to traffic with orange barrels. 

And now a suburban mayor is catching heat from frustrated drivers who want the ramps open.

According to the "Akron Beacon Journal" the interchange was not going to be opened until a grand opening ceremony February 26, in which local and federal elected officals were invited to attend.

"I thought that was kind of dumb," said Stow resident Terry McIntyre. "Just so they can have a mutual back-patting celebration."

"I've been waiting for it (to open), 'cause I drive by it everyday,"  Stow resident, Brent Wehry said. "I could hop on the expressway easily from there."

"It's taxpayer dollars," said Wehry. "They should open it."

The Ohio Department of Transportation completed the $6.2 million project at the end of January. ODOT District 4 spokesman, Justin Chesnic said the city of Stow will maintain the interchange.

"Once we did our job, we pretty much hand it over to the city," Chesnic said. "Stow is responsible for opening (the interchange)."

Stow mayor, Karen Fritschel, did not respond to requests for an interview with reporter Paul Thomas.

But Channel 3 News did receive an e-mail Friday which said that the interchange "will open sometime during the week of February 15, weather permitting."

The grand opening ceremony originally scheduled for February 26 has now been cancelled.