Cleveland Rd. ready for revamp

SANDUSKY — Local officials green-lit a transformational street project, which actually came in under budget by a large amount. During a recent public meeting, Sandusky city commissioners approved a contract to pursue 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. "This important corridor carries residents, workers and visitors every day, and these improvements will help people move through the area more safely," city interim public works director Josh Snyder said. "Studies have shown that roundabouts installed in locations like this reduce delays and improve pedestrian crossings, while the signal and turn-lane work will address long-standing congestion concerns along Cleveland Road." Some work has already started and should end around May, timed up with when Cedar Point's 2026 season begins. The scope A city statement summarized the expected enhancements happening. "This project addresses six intersections along Cleveland Road within the Sandusky city limits," it read. "The work includes new turn lanes, replacement of aging signal equipment, removal of unwarranted signals, pedestrian safety upgrades and the construction of a single-lane roundabout at Cleveland Road and Cedar Point Drive." 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. Specific elements include: • Replacing traffic signal poles and mast arms at Harbor Parkway and Remington Avenue • Adding new turn lanes at Harbor Parkway, Remington Avenue and Sycamore Lane • Removing traffic signals at Avondale Street, Cowdery Street and Milan Road/Frontage Road C • Constructing a modified one-lane roundabout at Cedar Point Drive with crosswalks and upgraded intersection lighting • Putting in transit bus pull-off areas near Harbour Parkway • Incorporating sidewalk, curbing and improved drainage on the north side of Cleveland Road from Harbour Parkway to East Shoreway Drive, meeting up with the newly installed Sandusky Bay Pathway On a related note, "The city has a separate sidewalk, drainage and curbing project planned for the south side of Cleveland Road from Harbour Parkway to East Shoreway Drive slated for 2027 that is partially funded by" the Ohio Department of Transportation. The timeline The statement also provided some history as it relates to this project: • "This project began after the U.S. 6 corridor study, completed by TranSystems in 2019, and coordinated through the Erie County metropolitan planning organization. That study recommended several safety and traffic flow improvements on (U.S.) 6 through Sandusky and into Huron." • "In 2020, the city commission authorized the filing of a highway safety improvement program grant application with ODOT based on those recommendations." • "In 2021, the city selected American Structurepoint of Cleveland to provide engineering and design services. Their work included environmental review, warrant studies, feasibility analysis for the roundabout, detailed design and public meetings." • "Since then, the city has completed property acquisition and installed water line upgrades in spring 2024 in preparation for the roadway construction." The cost The estimated cost totals about $3.6 million, down from an original amount of $4.5 million, equating to a nearly 18% decrease. It breaks down, as explained in a city statement, with: • $3.2 million coming in federal funds • $388,000 coming in local funds through the city's capital budget; This is down from an earlier estimate of $629,000, translating to a 38% drop. The money comes from a large-scale projects account and not the everyday operating budget, funding dozens of essential public services, like police and fire. The related project The roundabout slated 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 As this work gets started, also 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.