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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
  • 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 1 Construction continues with the following:

     Private Utility Relocations are nearing completion:

    o        Ohio Edison has completed their work on S.R. 43, Fairchild Avenue and Water Street and will continue relocating lines in the area of the Crain / Lake / Water intersection.

    o        Dominion East Ohio Gas has completed their mainline work throughout the project.

    o        AT&T has completed their work on Water Street and continues to work on line relocations on S.R. 43 and Lake St.

    o        Time Warner Cable continues to transfer their services to new poles on S.R. 43 and Lake St.

    ·         Construction of the new Sheetz at the corner of S.R. 43 and Fairchild Avenue has begun, and is being coordinated with the Fairchild Avenue Bridge Project.

    ·         Fairchild Avenue Bridge Construction continues with the Piers visible between the River and the railroad tracks.  Excavation continues for the fourth and final bridge foundation between the CSX and ABC Railroad tracks.

     

    Construction Traffic Update:

    Temporary daytime lane restrictions throughout the project, namely where utility relocations are occurring.

    o        Most interruptions occurring on Crain Ave. / Lake St. / Water St.

    ·         The Brady Lake Road Bridge Detour is currently in effect and will continue into the summer. This traffic detour is being coordinated with the Fairchild Ave. Bridge Project.

     Traffic maintained on all streets

     

    New Fairchild Bridge foundation construction

    Reinforcing steel that will be inside one of the concrete columns on the new bridge

                  

    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