14 hours ago, Mendo said:

 

That section started construction last year.

I'm a curmudgeon with a lot of things, but with this I wish they had put a better detour together when planning this constuction (at least for the Jennings Rd. portion). Your choices are to either jump out in Steelyard by the temporary police station and get your legs moving to get through the light and not get hit by a car, or to ride around a barrier, then go up in the gravel/dirt road they put together for parking (still before the light). It's a lifesaver to have access to Jennings on the other side of the light (literally).

 

I get that it's part of progress for the trail overall, but it's the equivalent to blocking off sidewalks downtown and forcing people to cross the street at dangerous places (and thanks to the JHB complex for putting up barriers to continue pedestrian traffic!). 

 

Bah humbug lol.

Interesting article that's worth sharing. I'm really excited about this project and what it will do to the surrounding communities! 

 

https://www.cleveland.com/arts/2019/06/burning-river-legacy-towpath-trail-spurs-rediscovery-of-cuyahoga-valley-erasing-east-west-divide.html

 

 

I see they are having groundbreaking for Canal Basin Park soon.....Have they secured all the finacing they need?

I was on the Towpath today around where they are constructing stage one along Harvard and  Jennings.  One of the Construction workers told me that asphalt trucks are scheduled to arrive next Wednesday to start the final paving!!  Can't wait!!  

https://www.cleveland.com/news/2019/10/metroparks-awards-6m-to-build-wendy-park-bridge-connecting-lakefront-to-towpath-lake-link-trails.html

 

Metro parks awards 6M to build wendy park bridge connecting lakefront to towpath lake link trails

On 4/26/2019 at 7:35 AM, GISguy said:

I'm a curmudgeon with a lot of things, but with this I wish they had put a better detour together when planning this constuction (at least for the Jennings Rd. portion). Your choices are to either jump out in Steelyard by the temporary police station and get your legs moving to get through the light and not get hit by a car, or to ride around a barrier, then go up in the gravel/dirt road they put together for parking (still before the light). It's a lifesaver to have access to Jennings on the other side of the light (literally).

 

I get that it's part of progress for the trail overall, but it's the equivalent to blocking off sidewalks downtown and forcing people to cross the street at dangerous places (and thanks to the JHB complex for putting up barriers to continue pedestrian traffic!). 

 

Bah humbug lol.

 

Where would you have put the detour?

2 minutes ago, mtnbikefan said:

 

Where would you have put the detour?

It's not so much of where I would of put it but how I would have done it. It seems like it wasn't part of the initial plans (same with the current progress with the RR crossing). 

 

The 'detour' if you could call it that, was barely marked, wasn't safe, and was an afterthought. All I'm saying is it was a terrible (and dangerous) oversight on their part. 

 

More signage, sharrows (as dumb as those are), lighting, etc., could've helped a lot.

 

BTW this phase still isn't completely open.

As of this evening, still no visible progress with the towpath over the railroad tracks on Jennings Rd. I've passed through every week for the last few months without seeing any real changes.

On 11/2/2019 at 7:46 PM, infrafreak said:

As of this evening, still no visible progress with the towpath over the railroad tracks on Jennings Rd. I've passed through every week for the last few months without seeing any real changes.

Same, I wonder if they plan on resurfacing the entire crossing with this work planned? That could somewhat account for the holdup, but alas, for the average joe, cycling season is over, and this section still isn't complete.

11 hours ago, GISguy said:

Same, I wonder if they plan on resurfacing the entire crossing with this work planned? That could somewhat account for the holdup, but alas, for the average joe, cycling season is over, and this section still isn't complete.

 

While it is great that people can make use of the path long before it is officially "open", there are neither accommodations nor warnings to mitigate the risk of crossing in that area. Given the topography and enclosing river, heavy industry, and freeway, they really don't have an alternative routing. It's a critical link. Between the long gap at the tracks and the dangerous intersection with Old Denison Ave right next to it, it feels downright hostile for cyclists...it is a death wish for pedestrians.

Reminder....

 

An update on the RR Crossing:

^ RR companies getting in the way... that's sure nothing new. Good to hear it's at least moving along and not completely stalled. 

Drove by on Saturday and saw it was no different than ever - thanks for the update; while the explanation is as unsurprising as it is disappointing, their transparency and candidness is welcome.

Edited November 20, 20195 yr by infrafreak

34 minutes ago, infrafreak said:

Drove by on Saturday and saw it was no different than ever - thanks for the update; while the explanation is as unsurprising as it is disappointing, their transparency and candidness is welcome.

Totally agree, I was honestly expecting no response and was snarky in my ask, but holy crap to hear they're as disappointed in it as everyone else means something. I still wish there were some way to make it a safe area for bikes for the time being..

Drove past the railroad tracks on Jennings Rd last night - still no signs of progress. I wasn't holding my breath after @GISguy's update, but it doesn't make it any less disheartening to see every time going past the site.

Edited December 31, 20195 yr by infrafreak
removed extra space

Metroparks recently updated (or just created?) their master plan for the Lakefront parks.  It’s cool to see the vision mapped out, and I especially love that they’re targeting water taxi stops at Merwin’s Wharf, Canal Basin, and Wendy Park.

 

https://www.clevelandmetroparks.com/getmedia/a9b31afb-6ac9-4f7d-bea0-5f3f299e8f5e/LAKEFRONT_M_P_DEC2019.pdf.ashx

Edited January 1, 20205 yr by acd
Formatting

7 hours ago, acd said:

Metroparks recently updated (or just created?) their master plan for the Lakefront parks.  It’s cool to see the vision mapped out, and I especially love that they’re targeting water taxi stops at Merwin’s Wharf, Canal Basin, and Wendy Park.

 

https://www.clevelandmetroparks.com/getmedia/a9b31afb-6ac9-4f7d-bea0-5f3f299e8f5e/LAKEFRONT_M_P_DEC2019.pdf.ashx

I keep looking on line for any information detailing when Canal Basic Park will start moving forward in any meaningful way.  Do they actually have a the needed $$$?  It seems like another one of those projects in town that is taking forever to get going.

8 hours ago, Htsguy said:

I keep looking on line for any information detailing when Canal Basic Park will start moving forward in any meaningful way.  Do they actually have a the needed $$$?  It seems like another one of those projects in town that is taking forever to get going.

 

WCPN interviewed the Director of Canalway Partners Tim Donovan and his replacement, Mera Cardenas on a recent episode of The Sound of Ideas.  No specific time frame, but it sounds like as soon as Mera gets started, her focus will be canal basin park. 

 

https://wcpn.ideastream.org/programs/sound-of-ideas/canalway-partners-changes-leadership

 

They don't have the money for Canal Basin Park at this time, but there are a few big donors. Leftover funds from the Steelyard Commons TIF can be used at the site if they aren't used on Stage 4, which will be expensive. The City and The Metroparks aren't willing to pay from their budgets for Canal Basin so they'll look to sources like NOACA and Clean Ohio. Metroparks would like to "green up" the site like they did in the former parking lot next to the Flatiron but other projects are higher priority to their commissioners right now.  

 

I was disappointed to see that The Wendy Park Bridge design by Miguel Rosales was scrapped because of Norfolk Southern's safety requirements. The design that is now being used is by KS Associates based in Elyria.   All of Mr. Rosales' elegant pedestrian bridge designs have been scrapped for Cleveland.   

 

 

Does anybody know what is going on with the the park?  You rarely hear any news about it.

Is this trail and/or park related?

 

Edited May 1, 20205 yr by KJP

Trail.....Thats the final piece of the towpath as it runs into the park

Right, that's the end of stage 4. Most of the work so far has been on University Road in Tremont. Glad to see they are also working at the other end.

 

So that is the end of the trail.  Are they building a tall beacon there?  Why a core sample?

Yeah, what is the drilling for? Looks like they're going deep.

Here is a close-up of the planned ramp from Carter to under Columbus. Maybe it's soil testing for any foundation work for this ramp or bridge?

 

 

That's no soil testing rig. That for a bridge footer. They were drilling right where that new trail bridge is shown in the map.

 

And that's a cool map but...why would anyone use that ramp and underpass when they can just cross the street? I would rather see that corner developed.

We love ramps, underpasses, and bridges in this town!  Especially when a crosswalk will do.

I’d say that intersection is a bit of a mess for all modes of transport.

Evidently some fresh asphalt got laid today in the flats section of towpath.

 

Not my pictures:

 

https://imgur.com/gallery/HI24IZb

Edited May 2, 20205 yr by infrafreak
conciseness

13 hours ago, w28th said:

I’d say that intersection is a bit of a mess for all modes of transport.

Agreed!  I ride my bike thru there almost every day....That intersection is insane.  The Towpath is doing everything it can to keep Bikes off the road, especially right there.  

 

Does anyone know if these designs are actually finalized or just preliminary?  I know they have been repairing the underside of the bridge...

Every time I see this Canal Basin thread pop up for a blink I think it says Carole Baskin.  

4 hours ago, mrclifton88 said:

Does anyone know if these designs are actually finalized or just preliminary?  I know they have been repairing the underside of the bridge...

 

Just renderings to help sell the vision

23 hours ago, KJP said:

 

Good job by the folks in this rendering for maintaining 6 feet of distance ?

Going to be pretty impressive when this wraps up

Wendy Park Bridge Progress (Sat. 9-5-20)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Connector Trail Progress (sorry about the glare)

 

 

 

Right of way clearance and bridge/boardwalk work beginning for the trail just south of the Westerly Treatment Plant

 

Rendering of the bridge/boardwalk

I'm loving that last pic, particularly.  I've always felt bad for the folks dodging traffic in poop town. 

20 hours ago, gruver said:

I'm loving that last pic, particularly.  I've always felt bad for the folks dodging traffic in poop town. 

Ooo, I didn't even realize that's where that rendering was until you said that. That area is always such a crapshoot ?

 

..I'll see myself out, it's too early for this

 

And btw, nice pics @NorthShore647!

Edited September 11, 20204 yr by GISguy

I play in a volleyball league at Whiskey. Can't tell you how many times I've ridden my bike there and had to constantly look over my shoulder hoping not to get run over by oncoming traffic. 

 

Long overdue and much needed. 

On 9/9/2020 at 2:31 PM, NorthShore647 said:

Wendy Park Bridge Progress (Sat. 9-5-20)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

These pictures remind me of one of my biggest complaints for bike path design. Here are a couple, admittedly minor, examples of the path "super-elevated" the wrong way. For those of you who have never heard the term "super-elevated", think of the berm on a NASCAR track. If you were flying around these curves the paving does not counter the centifugal force of the curve, in fact, it encourages the force off of the path. In some places on the Towpath, this can get very sketchy when the pavement is wet. Most bike path designs that I've seen don't include super-elevation tables for the bike path, therefore leaving the fine grading up to the contractor or inspector. Hoping there are some designers out there who read this and have an " Ah hah!" moment.

it's a shared path, not a racetrack

39 minutes ago, mtnbikefan said:

it's a shared path, not a racetrack

Yes, Thank you!  I'm a daily cycling commuter on a bike trail, and see type-A cycle-jerks discourteously & unsafely overtaking pedestrians along my route every day. There's absolutely no need to replicate a velodrome inside our public parks; where children, pets, and various slow-moving folk are often sharing the trails with such shameless would be maniacs. Our surface roads are fine for higher speeds.

Edited September 15, 20204 yr by ExPatClevGuy

Only with protected, dedicated bike lane. Biking in mixed traffic on many arterials in Cleveland is a death sentence.