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Fairchild Avenue Bridge

 

 

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
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    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

     

     

     

     

    CONSTRUCTION PHOTOS
    Project Construction Status:

    Phase 1 Construction continues with the following:

     

    • Private Utility Relocations

      • Ohio Edison has completed their work on Fairchild Avenue and Water Street and they are currently relocating lines on S.R.43 and Crain Avenue.
      • Dominion East Ohio Gas has completed their mainline work on Fairchild Avenue and after testing the line, will return to transfer services to the new lines.   They are completing the majority of their work on S.R. 43 and are beginning work on Water Street.
      • AT&T continues to work on pole relocations on Fairchild Avenue and S.R. 43.

      • Time Warner Cable continues to transfer their services to new poles in various locations.

    • Demolition for the new Sheetz at the corner of S.R. 43 and Fairchild Avenue is beginning, and is being coordinated with the Fairchild Avenue Bridge Project.

    • All Building Demolitions are complete.

    • Underground Storage Tank Removals will be occurring on N. Mantua at the old Cali Restaurant and at 534 N. Water Street.

    • Fairchild Avenue Bridge Construction is ongoing. The bridge foundation is now visible on the west side of the river and construction of the foundations on the east side of the river is underway.

    Construction Traffic Update:

    • Temporary daytime lane restrictions throughout the project, namely where utility relocations are occurring.
      • Most interruptions occurring on Crain/Lake/Water Street

    Traffic maintained on all streets.

     

                  

                  

    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