ODOT wants to hear from you at their public meeting July 14 in Akron about design plans to replace the existing blue-painted steel bridge — the North Expressway Viaduct — which carries Route 8 over various railroads, E. North Street and the Little Cuyahoga River. The open house meeting is from 5 p.m. – 7 p.m. at Celebration Church (688 Dan Street).
The purpose of the proposed replacement is to maintain a safe travel route and provide a structure able to accommodate additional traffic lanes in the future. The stretch of six-lane urban freeway carries more than 115,000 vehicles per day and is a vital component of transportation in northeast Ohio.
Multiple studies have been conducted in regards to the proposed replacement of the Route 8 bridge. The result of these various studies was the development of two feasible alignment (location) alternatives, referred to as the West Alignment (Alternative 1) and the East Alignment (Alternative 2), along with three different bridge types (Steel I-Girder, Pre-stressed Concrete Girder, and Concrete Segmental).
As part of a Feasibility Study, the two alignment alternatives were developed to a level of detail that enabled potential impacts associated with proposed roadway and bridge geometry, right-of-way, utilities and retaining walls to be assessed. Span configurations and potential pier locations were identified and evaluated through study level designs for each of the three alternative bridge types. Cost estimates were calculated for each bridge type alternative and then compiled to develop a probable opinion of total construction costs in 2020 dollars.
Based on the findings of the Feasibility Study, the Steel Girder and Concrete Segmental bridge types, constructed on the West Alignment (Alternative 1) were identified as the feasible alternatives. Additional study will be conducted to select between the two bridge types (Steel Girder vs. Concrete Segmental). The purpose of the public involvement meeting is to solicit comments from the public and stakeholders in regards to the studies that have been completed and the developed alternatives.
The public involvement meeting will be conducted in an open house format with no formal presentation.
Mapping, exhibits, and plans will be displayed. Throughout the open house, representatives of ODOT and the project team will be available to discuss the feasible alternatives, potential impacts of the proposed project, and address any questions and concerns.
In compliance with Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, as amended (codified as 36 CFR 800), ODOT also requests information 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 buildings, sites and districts.
The final date to submit comments is July 31, 2015.
