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Fairchild Avenue Bridge

 

HIGH WATER HAZARD CONTINUES

 

Project Location: Crain Avenue & Fairchild Avenue

 

Project Budget: $23 million ($19 million from

                                                        project partners)

 

Project Schedule:

Design Start Date             November 2007

Construction Start Date   August 2009

Project Finish                    December 2012

 

Click here to view Your Guide to the Fairchild Ave. Bridge Project”

 

 

 

Fairchild Avenue Bridge (Crain Avenue Bridge)

The existing Crain Avenue Bridge over the Cuyahoga River and CSX Rail lines is in Poor Condition based on General Appraisals of the bridge. In addition, a 2001 inspection rated the bridge as structurally deficient. Portage County, the owner of the bridge, has performed repairs annually on the structure over the last several years to maintain the bridge crossing.

                                                                                                                                                                     The bridge is one of only five bridges crossing the Cuyahoga River in the City. The bridge serves approximately 15,000 vehicles per day, making it the second most active crossing in the City. The intersection of SR 43/Crain/Fairchild Avenue is also the most highly congested intersection in Portage and Summit counties.

               

The project is a joint collaboration between the City, County and ODOT. The project currently has obtained $11.65 million in federal funds from AMATS, ODOT and the County Engineers Association of Ohio (CEAO).

The project currently has obtained $13.25 million in federal funds from AMATS, ODOT and the County Engineers Association of Ohio (CEAO).

The project used the Context Sensitive Design (CSD) process to determine the purpose and needs of the project as well as other community goals. Pedestrian, bicycle and vehicular safety were critical in the layout of the project. The project includes the following major items:

  • New 4-lane bridge along Fairchild Avenue alignment
  • Wider sidewalks on the new bridge (10’ and 8’)
  • Critical link of the Hike and Bike trail systems along the river
  • Added turn lane on SR 43 and Fairchild Avenue
  • Wider walkways set back away from the pavement
  • Raising of the A.B.C. Rail lines to address poor sight distance
  • Added green space along the east side of SR 43 north of the new bridge
  • Permanent storm water quality treatment measures
  • The City of Kent is pleased to share the following renderings on the new Fairchild Avenue Bridge:

     

    Lake Street looking south onto N. Water Street towards the Star of the West Mill

     

     

     

     

     

     

    The Portage Hike and Bike Trail, between N. Mantua Street and the west bank of the Cuyahoga River, looking north toward the new Fairchild Avenue Bridge

     

     

     

     

     

     

    The new pedestrian bridge, located at the old Crain Avenue Bridge site, looking north up the Cuyahoga River and along N. Mantua Street

     

     

     

    Phase 2 Construction continues with the following:

    • Road work is now beginning on the east side of the river, with construction beginning on Water St. and Crain Ave. Water Street and Crain Avenue are currently closed to thru traffic, with detours posted.

    • Fairchild Avenue is currently closed at the intersection with S.R. 43 for a short time while pavement work is performed.

    • S. R. 43 is currently limited to one lane in each direction between Rockwell and Crain Ave., changing to one lane northbound and two lanes southbound in the area between Crain Ave. and Stinaff St.

    • Cuyahoga St. continues to remain closed at S.R. 43. However, Stinaff St. is open to all traffic.

    • The concrete deck for the Fairchild Bridge is anticipated to be poured later this spring.

    • Work on the ABC Railroad near Main Street is beginning again, with the construction of a final retaining wall near the Star of the West grain mill. 

    High Water Hazard Continues:

    • ·An access causeway is installed on the Cuyahoga River just downstream of the Crain Avenue Bridge, approximately one mile downstream of the River Bend put-in and 100 yards upstream of Brady’s Leap.

    • Restricts the river flow from 70 feet wide to a 21 foot wide sluice with a bridge crossing.

    •    Paddlers should avoid the area during high water flows.

    • Paddlers should take extra precaution to check the water conditions at this causeway before entering the waterway.

     Construction Traffic Update:

    • Currently, Fairchild Avenue, Crain Avenue and Water Street are detoured.

    • Traffic is limited to one lane in each direction on a portion of S.R. 43, as described above.

    ·          Access to businesses and residences will be maintained.

     

    Crain Ave. and Water St. are currently closed to thru-traffic.

     

    Gearing up for construction of the retaining wall along ABC RR near Star of the West

     

     

    Contact:

    James Bowling, P.E.             

    City Engineer

    Phone: 330-678-8106

    Email: bowlingj@kent-ohio.org

      City of Kent

    Department of Public Service

    Division of Engineering