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Fairchild Avenue Bridge

Project Location: Crain Avenue & Fairchild Avenue

 

Project Budget: $20.2 million

 

Project Schedule:

Design Start Date             November 2007

Construction Start Date   March 2009

Project Finish                    December 2011

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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 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

     

     

     

    Project Status:
    • Citizens Advisory Committee meetings were held on 1/13/08 and 2/5/08 and were open to the public
    • Stage 2 Design plans have been reviewed and Stage 3 Design has begun
    • County reviewing draft agreement between the City and County
    • Negotiating impacts with A.B.C. Railroad
    • Right-of-Way negotiations finalized on 80% of the parcels
    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