Creating a safer Cleveland Rd.

SANDUSKY — After the project went through some detours and yielded to a legal matter, local officials accelerated forward with a long-awaited intersection improvement initiative. During a recent public meeting, city commissioners proceeded with pursuing substantial upgrades along Cleveland Road (U.S. 6) on Sandusky's east end. Tasks involve incorporating various safety upgrades. This would include, most notably, adding a roundabout. Through a memo written by city assistant engineer Josh Snyder, here are the most notable details: • Project background: "Through grant funding made available by the Ohio Department of Transportation through the highway safety improvement program and previously approved legislation, staff has worked with the selected design firm American Structure Point, Inc. and its subconsultants to plan, design and acquire the necessary easements and property to move forward with the Cleveland Road safety improvement project, a project that has been in the works since 2020 and received support through not only state partners but private partners to move forward with this project." • Project scope: "The Cleveland Road safety improvement project addresses six intersections along Cleveland Road (U.S. 6) within the city corporation limits. The planned enhancements come from previous (state transportation department)-led consultant studies driven by updated traffic pattern and count data and the routing that has evolved over the years with mobile GPS units guiding travelers." • Project areas: Here's a look at where work will occur: — Cleveland Road at the intersections of Harbour Parkway and Remington Avenue: There will be a "replacement of traffic signal poles and arms with the addition of turn lanes to offer additional traffic storage." — Cleveland Road at Avondale/McKinley Street, Cleveland Road at Cowdery Street and Milan Road at Frontage Road C: "Studies show the traffic counts do not meet (the state's) standards to warrant signals at the intersections. Those existing signals will be removed." — Cleveland Road and Sycamore Line (U.S. 250): "An additional turn lane will be installed." — Cleveland Road: Sidewalks along the north side of the road between Cedar Point Drive to Remington Avenue. The projects will then extend to East Shoreway Drive. And, by 2027, sidewalks should be built on both sides of this entire area. In addition, as a separate project, this area would also accommodate an expansion for the Sandusky Bay Pathway. — Cleveland Road and Cedar Point Drive: "The biggest improvement to the corridor will be the installation of a two-lane roundabout (by Thirsty Pony). This will help push traffic through the area while offering pedestrian access points for safer traverse." Officials stressed how the roundabout construction area will remain open to traffic throughout all phases of work. There should be one lane of travel open in all directions at all times. Officials indicated the project should start later this year and end by May right before Cedar Point's 2026 season begins. "Cleveland Road is one of the most heavily traveled corridors in our city," Sandusky ex officio mayor Dick Brady said. "The dramatically improved safety of this road will benefit both our residents and the millions of visitors we welcome each year to Sandusky." The estimated cost totals about $4.5 million. The state pledged to cover a majority of this expense, about $3.9 million. Sandusky's capital funds, which don't subsidize its every operating budget, will cover the balance of $629,000. This and that Here are a few other notes related to this project: Settling the settlement Earlier this summer, a prolonged legal matter involving the roundabout and land issues ended. The settlement, relating to a lawsuit involving S&S Realty, needed resolution before the entire Cleveland road safety improvement project could go forward. In the end, the state ended up covering 95%, or roughly $1.18 million, of this judgment with city funds covering a balance of $70,000. Readying for more roundabouts The roundabout planned for the intersection at Cedar Point Drive is just one of several planned along U.S. 6 in Erie County between Sandusky and Huron. In a separate but related state-funded project, a $24 million expense calls for various upgrades along U.S. 6, including at the intersections of Cleveland Road at: • East Perkins Avenue by Osborn MetroPark • Camp Road by Barnes Nursery • Rye Beach Road by a Shell gas station • A pair at the Ohio 2 ramp interchanges Construction on the actual connectivity corridor won't begin until April 2026 with a scheduled completion date set for October 2027. Getting the road ready Along Cleveland Road from Remington Avenue to the city's eastern edge, by the sports complexes, construction work recently began on The Landing. Earlier this summer, city commissioners finalized a $19.5 million package to finance The Landing, a proposed 27-acre nature space behind Sports Force Parks on Cleveland Road in Sandusky's back bay. By 2029, officials ideally want to create an uninterrupted 13-mile-long waterfront route, connecting Sandusky's west side to its east end, linking parks, piers, restaurants, hotels, businesses, wooded areas and more.