Title: Improvements to the Interchange at I-77 and Rockside Road in Independence
Sponsor: City of Independence
Estimated Cost: $3,455,781 (PE Env., DD, and C)
Proposed Source of Federal Funds: ODOT

History/Background: The Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) Safety program provides funds to ODOT and local governments for highway safety treatments or corrective activity designed to alleviate a safety problem or a potentially hazardous situation. The program is funded at approximately $100 million annually. Priority is given to those projects with recommended activities/countermeasures that improve safety at roadway locations with a high frequency, severity, and rate of crashes.

There are two application cycles per year. Applications must be signed off by the respective ODOT District Safety Review Team. A safety engineering study must typically accompany the application unless the application is for preliminary engineering funds to complete the study.

The following project was selected for Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP) funding.

• CUY-IR 77-8.37 NB RAMPS SAFETY: PID No. 113403 – This project involves improvements at the interchange at I-77 and Rockside Road, in Independence (illustrations 1, 2).
  • The proposed countermeasures include:
    •  Widening the northbound (NB) approach at the Rockside Road / I-77 NB exit ramp to provide dual left and right turn lanes;
    •  Reconstructing the traffic signal at the Rockside Road / I-77 NB exit ramp; and
    • Widening the Rockside Road eastbound (EB) loop ramp onto I-77 NB / I-480 to provide two (2) travel lanes.

The project’s estimated total cost, provided by the sponsor, is $3,455,781. The estimated cost of preliminary engineering environmental (PD Env.) $261,333. The estimated cost of detailed design (DD) is $130,667. The estimated cost of construction (C) is $3,063,781. The PE Env. and DD will be funded locally. The C will be funded with Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP) funds and local funds.

Staff Comment (Summary):

RECOMMENDATIONS:

• NOACA will coordinate with the City to evaluate potential additional opportunities for increased safety, operational and pedestrian improvements within the project scope.
• This project is located within the Cuyahoga Heights-Cuyahoga River Subwatershed.  According to Ohio EPA's 2020 Integrated Report, this subwatershed is impaired due to Organic Enrichment, Flow Regime Modification, Habitat Alteration, Pollutants in Urban Stormwater, and Causes Unknown.  No sources have been identified.  This project is upstream from an Ohio EPA sampling site and the project sponsor is recommended to minimize soil disturbing activities, capture and manage stormwater onsite and reduce stormwater pollution from adjacent highway runoff.

Title: Major Rehabilitation of I-490 in Cleveland
Sponsor: Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) District 12
Estimated Total Cost: $42,839,629
Proposed Source of Federal Funds: ODOT
History/Background: The following project is included in ODOT District 12’s Major Rehabilitation Program. 

• CUY IR-490 - 00.00 MAJOR REHAB: PID No. 107408 - This project involves replacing the pavement on I-490 from IR-90 to I-77 in Cleveland (illustration). Work will include an overlay and other repairs to the bridge over the Cuyahoga River.  The project’s estimated total cost, provided by the sponsor, is $42,839,629. The estimated cost of preliminary engineering environmental (PE Env.) is $1,524,629. The estimated cost of preliminary engineering detailed design (PEDD) is $750,000. The estimated cost of construction (CO) is $39,500,000. The estimated cost of construction engineering (CE) is $1,065,000. The project will be fully funded with Multi-Lane Major Rehabilitation Program funds, Major Bridge funds and ODOT District Preservation funds for award in October 2025.

Staff Comment (Summary):

RECOMMENDATION:

• This project is located within the City of Cleveland-Cuyahoga River Subwatershed.  According to Ohio EPA's 2020 Integrated Report, this subwatershed is impaired. No causes or sources have been identified, but this watershed is part of the Cuyahoga River Area of Concern.  The AOC (Area of Concern) has seven beneficial uses impaired BUIs (Beneficial Use Impairments) including and Degradation of Fish Populations, Fish Tumors or Other Deformities, Degradation of Benthos, Restrictions on Navigational Dredging,Eutrophication or Undesirable Algae, Beach Closings (Recreational Contact) and Loss of Fish Habitat. The project sponsor is recommended to minimize soil disturbing activities, capture and manage stormwater onsite and reduce stormwater pollution from adjacent highway runoff.

Intergovernmental Review and Consultation (IGRC):

Committee Review:

Transportation Subcommittee

• No comments; recommended for Planning and Programming Committee review.

Planning and Programming Committee

• No comments; recommended for Executive Committee review.

Executive Committee

 • No comments; recommended for Board of Directors review.