Photo of the Day: New Access Road Going In

Work is under way on an access road that will link the Plaza at SouthPark with the adjacent Ledgewood Square and Borders plaza.

Visconsi Companies, which owns the Plaza at SouthPark, is building a 450-foot road that will run behind Ledgewood Square and connect with the driveway at the Borders Plaza.

Traffic will be able to get in and out using the Borders driveway -- it aligns with an entrance to SouthPark Mall -- or can continue west through the parking lot and use Falling Water Drive.

The aim is to alleviate traffic tie-ups at Royalton and Howe roads -- in particular, eastbound traffic that stacks up on Route 82 trying to turn left into the Plaza at SouthPark.

The signal at the Borders driveway -- which currently lets only about six cars exit the shopping center on a green light -- will be addressed, city officials said.

City Engineer Ken Mikula said the city is working with the Ohio Department of Transportation on a signalization plan to smooth out the flow of traffic in the whole I-71 and mall area on Royalton Road.

Motorists have listed that area -- and especially the driveway into the Plaza at SouthPark -- among their top traffic peeves in Strongsville.

The access road will run past Rosewood Grill and behind Petco and Bed Bath & Beyond, then head west behind Strongsville Superwash, Panera and Trivs, coming out at the rear corner of the Borders store.