Readying the roundabout

SANDUSKY — In recent days, traffic conditions have drastically changed at the Cleveland Road (U.S. 6) intersection at Cedar Point Drive, near Thirsty Pony, in Sandusky. Amid construction, the intersection is down to one lane with two-way traffic controlled by temporary traffic signals, according to a statement the city government issued on Friday. Along Cleveland Road: • Officials stressed how the roundabout construction area will remain largely open to traffic throughout all phases of work. • At most times, there should be one lane of travel available for east-west travel. • Drivers, however, should expect delays in the area through, at least, the next three weeks. "Plan ahead and allow extra travel time," according to a city statement. Traffic on Cleveland Road is now being routed through the southern portion of the newly constructed roundabout. "The lane shift is necessary so crews can complete the center and northern sections of the roundabout," according to a city statement. Cedar Point Drive remains closed at Cleveland Road through May 8 while crews complete utility relocations and roundabout construction. Direct access to Cedar Point Drive from Cleveland Road is not available. The posted detour routes drivers to Sycamore Line to Fifth Street back to Cedar Point Drive. Work remains on schedule. The roundabout is expected to open to traffic by May 8, one day prior to Cedar Point's opening day for 2026, with the full project wrapping up in fall 2026. Beyond the circular traffic layout, other area tasks involve incorporating various safety upgrades at what was a three-way crossing. "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." People can receive updates on this project by visiting cityofsandusky.com/clevelandroad. The overall scope The Cleveland Road safety improvement project encompasses more than just what's happening at Cedar Point Drive. Officials will pursue substantial upgrades elsewhere along Cleveland Road on Sandusky's east end. "This project addresses six intersections along Cleveland Road within the Sandusky city limits," the statement 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." 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 cost The estimated cost for this aforementioned work in and around Cleveland Road totals about $3.6 million. 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, an estimated $27 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 later this year with a scheduled completion date set for 2029. 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. A year ago, 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.