City of Kent, Ohio: Engineering Division

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 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:

Phase 2 Construction continues with the following:

Work on the ABC Railroad near Main Street has begun, including construction of retaining walls and reconstruction of the railroad tracks. Steel piles are being placed as supports for the new retaining walls.
The steel beams have been placed on the Fairchild Avenue Bridge foundations.
Retaining walls for the Bike Path tunnel which passes beneath the Fairchild Bridge are currently under construction.
Fairchild Avenue road work is nearly complete, with the construction of new pavement, curb, sidewalk, driveways and drive aprons.
Construction on the east side of S.R. 43 continues with new pavement, curb, sidewalk, driveways and drive aprons, a retaining wall, and storm sewer and underground utilities among other things.
The new Sheetz is under construction on the corner of S.R. 43 and Fairchild Ave. and construction is being coordinated between the two projects.

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 is detoured.
Both Northbound and Southbound traffic on S.R. 43 are shifted to the west side of the road and reduced to one lane in each direction between Rockwell Ave. and Stinaff St.
Access between S.R. 43 and Cuyahoga and Stinaff Streets is currently prohibited.
Phase 2 will continue through the summer and fall with the Fairchild Avenue detour and lane closures on S.R. 43.

Access to businesses and residences will be maintained.

Looking north at piles being placed for the new retaining walls along the ABC Railroad near the Star of the West Milling Co.

Looking south at the Bike Path Tunnel and retaining walls adjacent to the new Fairchild Ave. Bridge

Looking east from Fairchild Ave. at the future Fairchild Bridge crossing.