The City of Cuyahoga Falls has secured funding for a future road construction project to improve Howe Avenue. The proposed project is in the early stages of development and public input is requested at this time.
The project involves complete pavement reconstruction of Howe Avenue (CR 602) from State Route (SR) 8 to Buchholzer Boulevard. The purpose of this project is to correct roadway deficiencies, optimize traffic operations, improve pedestrian safety and mobility, and improve roadway drainage. Five existing mast arm traffic signals will be replaced with new mast arm and which will be interconnected utilizing radio interconnection to improve traffic flow. A sound-based emergency vehicle pre-emption system will also be provided as part of the project. New LED signal heads with back-plates will be used along with a battery backup system for the proposed signals.
The proposed improvements will result in acquisition of temporary and permanent right-of-way from twenty-eight property owners along the project corridor. Temporary right-of-way will generally be necessary for driveway reconstruction and grading needed to tie into existing grades behind the proposed sidewalk replacement. Permanent right-of-way is generally required at signalized locations to accommodate proposed signal poles or equipment. This project will improve the road traveling surface, vehicular traffic flow, pedestrian safety and connectivity on Howe Avenue resulting in an increase in traffic efficiency, a reduction in air pollution, and potentially an increase in economic development.
Howe Avenue will also be brought into compliance with Americans with Disabilities Act accessibility design standards and the United States and Ohio Environmental Protection Agency storm water regulations.
Construction of this estimated $7.1 million project is expected to begin in Spring 2019 and end in Summer 2020.
The project development team is working on plans to minimize traffic delays and detours by phasing construction activities. The sequence of construction includes three phases with maintenance of traffic plans for each phase:
Phase I: SR 8 to Main Street – The section of Howe Avenue from SR 8 to the west turnout of Main Street will be closed for fourteen (14) days during this phase of construction. Main Street will remain open to traffic with no lane restrictions. The two (2) exit ramps from SR 8 to Howe Avenue will be closed during this phase. Traffic will be directed to exit SR 8 at the Broad Boulevard exit. The detour route will be Broad Boulevard to Newbury Street to Main Street.
Phase 1A: SR 8 to Main Street – During this phase, the section of Howe Avenue from SR 8 to the middle of the Main Street intersection will be closed for an additional seven (7) days to reconstruct the western half of the Main Street intersection. The two (2) exit ramps from SR 8 to Howe Avenue will remain closed during this phase. The same detour for Phase 1 will be used for the Phase 1A operations. One (1) lane of traffic in each direction will be maintained on Main Street.
Phase 1B: SR 8 to Main Street – During this phase, the section of Howe Avenue from SR 8 to the intersection of Main Street will remain closed for an additional seven (7) days to reconstruct the southeast corner of the Main Street intersection. The two (2) exit ramps from SR 8 to Howe Avenue will remain closed during this phase. The same detour for Phase 1 will be used for the Phase 1B operations. One (1) lane of traffic in each direction will be maintained on Main Street. There will only be one lane eastbound on Howe Avenue from the Main Street intersection to approximately the driveway to Burger King and Taco Bell during this seven (7) day period.
Phase 1C: SR 8 to Main Street – During this phase, the section of Howe Avenue from SR 8 to the intersection of Main Street will remain closed to traffic for an additional seven (7) days to reconstruct the northeast corner of the Main Street intersection. The two (2) exit ramps from SR 8 to Howe Avenue will remain closed during this phase. The same detour for Phase 1 will be utilized for Phase 1C operations.
One (1) lane of traffic in each direction will be maintained on Main Street. There will only be one lane eastbound and westbound on Howe Avenue from the Main Street intersection to approximately the driveway to Burger King and Taco Bell during this seven (7) day period. At the completion of Phase 1C, the section Howe Avenue from SR 8 to the Main Street intersection will be reopened to traffic including the SR 8 exit ramps.
In Summary, this section of Howe Avenue will be closed for a minimum total of thirty five (35) days during Phase 1 through Phase 1C.
Phase 2: Main Street to Buchholzer Boulevard – This phase will involve reconstruction of the north side of Howe Avenue from the intersection of Main Street to Buchholzer Boulevard. Two (2) lanes of westbound traffic will be maintained at all times along this section of Howe Avenue. Eastbound traffic will not be permitted along Howe Avenue during this phase. Eastbound traffic will be detoured down
Main Street to Independence Avenue to Buchholzer Avenue. There will be concrete repairs performed along Independence Avenue prior to this road being utilized for the detour. This proposed detour route has been approved by the City of Akron.
This section of Howe Avenue will be closed for a minimum total of ninety (90) days during Phase 2.
Phase 3: Main Street to Buchholzer Boulevard – This phase will involve reconstruction of the south side of Howe Avenue from the intersection of Main Street to Buchholzer Boulevard. Two (2) lanes of westbound traffic will be maintained at all times along this section of Howe Avenue. Eastbound traffic will not be permitted along Howe Avenue during this phase. Eastbound traffic will be detoured utilizing the same detour as Phase 2.
This section of Howe Avenue will be closed for a minimum total of ninety (90) days during Phase 3.
As a federally funded state project, project planning will generally follow the project development process (PDP) with a staged review process as outlined in the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) Location and Design Manual, Volume 3.
In compliance with Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, as amended (codified as 36 CFR 800), information is requested regarding the presence of any known cultural resources in the vicinity of the project. Cultural resources include prehistoric and historic archaeological sites, historic bridges, historic building, sites and districts.
The City of Cuyahoga Falls is seeking public comments on the project. Any questions or comments regarding this undertaking, should be submitted to William D. Baker, Jr., P.E. via telephone at 440-530-2273, via mail at CT Consultants, Inc., 8150 Sterling Court, Mentor, Ohio 44060, or via email at bbaker@ctconsultants.com. Comments must be received by January 2, 2017.