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:

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