5 hours ago, cadmen said:

Anyone drive from downtown to UC on Euclid Ave recently? What a mess that road is. Come to think of it Euclid started breaking down right after they put the new bus line in. I know weather does a number on our streets but l think the reason for it breaking down so soon is the method in which it was built. 

 

Somebody made some bad decisions there.

This is what happens when things in Cleveland are built by the lowest bidder.    Watered down concrete doesn't last as long. 

1 hour ago, Cleburger said:

This is what happens when things in Cleveland are built by the lowest bidder.    Watered down concrete doesn't last as long. 

 

All public sector contracts are awarded to the lowest bidder. And if they aren't, you have to prove why (ie: past complaints of poor quality, criminal activity, etc).

12 hours ago, GISguy said:

A direct route to/from Cleveland so putting it here (mods feel free to put in bike/ped news) but it's amazing how easy it can be to put infrastructure in:

 

 

https://www.bikecleveland.org/bike-cle/news/new-harvard-avenue-cycletrack/2024/10/

I am interested to see how fire/emergency vehicles are able to traverse through areas now marked with single lanes. This photograph shows the fire engines need to cross the protected bike lanes.  The newest issue is maintaining the delineators. Most of these last a

very short time.  I really hope bike lanes could be standardized to what works best. Every time I see a new install the markings and styles change.  Don't get me wrong , I think bike lanes are important I just think the kinks need to be worked on

8 hours ago, KJP said:

 

All public sector contracts are awarded to the lowest bidder. And if they aren't, you have to prove why (ie: past complaints of poor quality, criminal activity, etc).

True!  It happens everywhere in America.   I realize now this sounds like I was singling out Cleveland, but was only referring to the stretch of road @cadmenwas complaining about. 

 

All of NE Ohio drives on crumbling roads poured by Allega!  :) 

7 hours ago, Cleburger said:

 

All of NE Ohio drives on crumbling roads poured by Allega!  :) 

 

Yes they do! The only cement they don't water down are their cement shoes.

Since when have we allowed parking on public square (blocking the bus only lane).

10 minutes ago, MyPhoneDead said:

Since when have we allowed parking on public square (blocking the bus only lane).

Is this a Sunday morning pic and if so could be for services at Old Stone Church?  Is a practice we have seen on the east coast like DC on Sunday's in gentrified neighborhoods where congregants may have moved to the burbs but return for services and parking becomes diagonal rather than parallel to curb.

1 hour ago, MyPhoneDead said:

Since when have we allowed parking on public square (blocking the bus only lane).

No idea if it's allowed, but this has been going on consistently for years. I believe mostly on Sundays as Willo mentioned.  

^ Yeah. This is a common occurrence. 

3 hours ago, Willo said:

Is this a Sunday morning pic and if so could be for services at Old Stone Church?  Is a practice we have seen on the east coast like DC on Sunday's in gentrified neighborhoods where congregants may have moved to the burbs but return for services and parking becomes diagonal rather than parallel to curb.

This was at about 12:30 today, I find it ironic that the police officer is there, stopped for a second, and kept going instead of enforcing with a ticket.

On 10/23/2024 at 4:22 PM, GISguy said:

A direct route to/from Cleveland so putting it here (mods feel free to put in bike/ped news) but it's amazing how easy it can be to put infrastructure in:

 

 

https://www.bikecleveland.org/bike-cle/news/new-harvard-avenue-cycletrack/2024/10/

Nice to see more cycling infrastructure.  I'd like to see a physical curb rather than plastic "bollards" that cars can (and do) drive through. 

 

https://www.sandersonconcrete.ca/high-profile-bike-lane-dividers

https://www.nzta.govt.nz/projects/dunedin-sh1-cycle-lane-safety-improvements-project/gallery

 

2 hours ago, MyPhoneDead said:

This was at about 12:30 today, I find it ironic that the police officer is there, stopped for a second, and kept going instead of enforcing with a ticket.

seems they do have a special permit per their website. Now whether they are encroaching beyond the approved area to park nose in on the square is a different story.

 

https://oldstonechurch.org/parking

 

I may be off base but I was crossing the DS Bridge and saw a city dump truck with a claw arm attached to it and it was gripping the old beige trash cans we hate so much. It looks like they were attempting to rip pull them up from the ground. 

3 hours ago, MyPhoneDead said:

I may be off base but I was crossing the DS Bridge and saw a city dump truck with a claw arm attached to it and it was gripping the old beige trash cans we hate so much. It looks like they were attempting to rip pull them up from the ground. 

A few of those have disappeared around the Hingetown and Detroit Shoreway neighborhoods in recent weeks. Hopefully they are planning to replace them...

Cleveland to spend $1M for comprehensive survey of its 90,000 street trees

Published: Jan. 07, 2025

By Sean McDonnell, cleveland.com

 

CLEVELAND, Ohio — The city of Cleveland is looking for an outside firm that can take a comprehensive look at the 90,000 trees that line the city’s streets — and offer advice on how to take care of them.

 

...

 

Urban Forestry is also looking for a roadmap that will outline how best to manage and grow the tree canopy through 2031. The firm that does the initial survey is also being asked to create a database Cleveland can update in the future.

 

...

 

Cleveland received a $3.4 million grant from the U.S. Forest Service in September to help plant and care for trees across the city. About $1 million will go toward paying for the comprehensive survey. Some of that money is also being set aside specifically for Opportunity Corridor.

 

https://www.cleveland.com/news/2025/01/cleveland-to-spend-1-m-for-comprehensive-survey-of-its-90000-street-trees.html

Fantastic! Thats a hug chunk of money, but since it was given to us I say cool, as long as they use it wisely!

 

I don’t think it’s really that hard, I know EXACTLY where they can start, it would probably solve 75% of the city’s issues. 

They should begin with Not Allowing Linemen To Cut Trees! The electrical companies should either have an arborist group, a member on each team, or at the very least require all linemen to attend so many class hours each year on how to trim trees properly.

They are like maniacs with chainsaws and completely butcher trees, it’s ridiculous!!!! I’m no tree hugger by any means, but it’s just insane! It kills nice old mature trees, ruins beautiful tree canopy’s, removes shade and the biggest one… makes our neighborhoods & city look ugly/goofy/hokey..etc.

 

Below are a few pics I grabbed from two streets while traveling 4mins between my parents home and my own. There were so many but these are just a quick handful. It’s so bad across the city now though, just about every street you drive down you can see damaged trees like the ones below and worse.

 

Warning: viewing these may make you upset.

 

Warning: zooming in on these may make you furious!

I know it's not that simple but if the city could mandate that utility lines are buried for all roadway improvement projects, it would eventually eliminate the power line problem lol

And it just overall really helps with the beautification process

It’s not the linemen trimming trees. There are dedicated tree trimmer crews that are contracted out. At least I know FirstEnergy does that. 

Even if the utility companies were cutting these trees themselves instead of an arborist company these cuts look pretty good; clean, flush to the trunk or nearest branch, and no splitting or cracking of the branches. I'm no expert by any means, but it didn't look like an issue of skill or care. I don't really see any other way you could trim those trees to not interfere with the powerlines and the only solution is to stop planting trees under powerlines or, as @Geowizical suggested, bury the lines. 

Yep, I have noticed this a lot more since the 2003 blackout.  That was attributed in part to trees encroaching on some power lines, I believe.

Speaking of Power lines.....via Michael Collier on IG

There has been a change in how trees are trimmed in the last couple decades.  The new style, "directional trimming" is much more invasive, though the utilities will tell you that it's all swell for the tree.  BS- I've seen trees die shortly after.  And yes, I think it's just CYA from the fallout of the 2003 blackout.  Trees were trimmed away from power lines before that, but never so aggressively.  My understanding is there is very little the City can do about it, as well.  The utilities basically have the right to do whatever they want to those trees to keep them away from their power lines.

27 minutes ago, MyPhoneDead said:

Speaking of Power lines.....via Michael Collier on IG

Easy fix add year-round solar party light strings to neutralize this silly string of wires. Would help activate and and light up this alley for safety and maybe new uses? How do we turn this Only in Cleveland display into a fun and gritty positive.  GE Nela Park any ideas?

 

 

6 hours ago, NR said:

Fantastic! Thats a hug chunk of money, but since it was given to us I say cool, as long as they use it wisely!

 

I don’t think it’s really that hard, I know EXACTLY where they can start, it would probably solve 75% of the city’s issues. 

They should begin with Not Allowing Linemen To Cut Trees! The electrical companies should either have an arborist group, a member on each team, or at the very least require all linemen to attend so many class hours each year on how to trim trees properly.

They are like maniacs with chainsaws and completely butcher trees, it’s ridiculous!!!! I’m no tree hugger by any means, but it’s just insane! It kills nice old mature trees, ruins beautiful tree canopy’s, removes shade and the biggest one… makes our neighborhoods & city look ugly/goofy/hokey..etc.

 

Below are a few pics I grabbed from two streets while traveling 4mins between my parents home and my own. There were so many but these are just a quick handful. It’s so bad across the city now though, just about every street you drive down you can see damaged trees like the ones below and worse.

 

Warning: viewing these may make you upset.

 

Warning: zooming in on these may make you furious!

The problem with this is that if you don't trim these trees you'll get more blackouts. That said, if you're to accept that tradeoff, I don't see why this is ridiculous or unreasonable. Legislatively forbid utility companies from preemptively cutting healthy trees, get more blackouts, have a more beautiful, natural city. Good trade if you ask me, but I don't think the general public will agree, particularly after the first preventable blackout. 

2 hours ago, Ethan said:

The problem with this is that if you don't trim these trees you'll get more blackouts. That said, if you're to accept that tradeoff, I don't see why this is ridiculous or unreasonable. Legislatively forbid utility companies from preemptively cutting healthy trees, get more blackouts, have a more beautiful, natural city. Good trade if you ask me, but I don't think the general public will agree, particularly after the first preventable blackout. 

 

I think I like @Geowizical's idea - just incrementally bury the power lines 🙂. If we can continue to upzone streets that should help generate the tax base necessary to pay for the improvements. 

 

I like the dedication, but blackouts can be quite disruptive for people depending on their needs. Even short blackouts can reset alarm clocks, disable medical devices, etc. and longer blackouts might spoil weeks' worth of food or prevent internet access for work. Especially in a working class city these effects are quite harsh if only for the purpose of making trees grow fuller.

Edited January 9Jan 9 by sonisharri

6 hours ago, sonisharri said:

 

I think I like @Geowizical's idea - just incrementally bury the power lines 🙂. If we can continue to upzone streets that should help generate the tax base necessary to pay for the improvements. 

 

I like the dedication, but blackouts can be quite disruptive for people depending on their needs. Even short blackouts can reset alarm clocks, disable medical devices, etc. and longer blackouts might spoil weeks' worth of food or prevent internet access for work. Especially in a working class city these effects are quite harsh if only for the purpose of making trees grow fuller.

Yeah basically agreed. Very often money can be used to avoid the need to compromise. This is one of those cases, if we're willing spend the money we can have a nice full canopy and reliable power. I believe France basically buried all the power lines throughout the country, it can be done. I'm pretty sure other cities have done exactly what is proposed here, and it's worked. I'd be in favor of it, though the added costs would prevent some borderline developments, it's just a different kind of compromise.

While I would love to bury all the power lines and allow the trees to grow, I think it is being understated just how expensive it would be. 

One of the recent projects I have worked on where overhead transmission lines were buried to a substation for just over 1,000ft cost well over $1 million. And this is in an area where there are no other existing utilities to conflict with. 

Requiring new developments to do this would be awesome, but it's not the matter of a couple thousand dollars. We're talking 100's of thousands on a lot projects. Then add in the additional coordinating with the electric companies which by itself is an enormous and time consuming task when they are semi-on board with burying their lines and it's a mountain to climb. I'm not sure power companies will ever be fully on board with moving their existing stuff underground for a variety of reasons. 

Here's a thought. Maybe pay a little attention to where new trees are planted. Driving around and you'll notice young trees on a tree lawn planted under electric lines and across the same street there are no lines AND no trees! WTF. It's almost they don't care lol.

38 minutes ago, cadmen said:

Here's a thought. Maybe pay a little attention to where new trees are planted. Driving around and you'll notice young trees on a tree lawn planted under electric lines and across the same street there are no lines AND no trees! WTF. It's almost they don't care lol.

 

Young trees were probably selected to be shorter than the actual power lines (at the top of the pole).  The problem is old trees in established neighborhoods that are often older than the power lines themselves.

34 minutes ago, X said:

 

Young trees were probably selected to be shorter than the actual power lines (at the top of the pole).  The problem is old trees in established neighborhoods that are often older than the power lines themselves.

Given the choice, I'd rather plant tall trees that will need to be butchered than dwarf varieties that will never grow tall. I'm sure that's not a popular position, but I think it's the less bad option. From a streetscape improvement perspective, there really isn't anything more impactful than burying the power lines and planting tall trees. I can understand the cost considerations, and they are valid, but the difference between framing streets with a lush tree canopy versus electrical lines might as well be the difference between day and night. There's no comparison. 

5 hours ago, enginerd12 said:

While I would love to bury all the power lines and allow the trees to grow, I think it is being understated just how expensive it would be. 

One of the recent projects I have worked on where overhead transmission lines were buried to a substation for just over 1,000ft cost well over $1 million. And this is in an area where there are no other existing utilities to conflict with. 

Requiring new developments to do this would be awesome, but it's not the matter of a couple thousand dollars. We're talking 100's of thousands on a lot projects. Then add in the additional coordinating with the electric companies which by itself is an enormous and time consuming task when they are semi-on board with burying their lines and it's a mountain to climb. I'm not sure power companies will ever be fully on board with moving their existing stuff underground for a variety of reasons. 

 

This is why I say major infrastructure upgrades like this should coincide with major upzoning. It's very difficult to justify the cost for a street with 50 single family homes vs hundreds of apartments.

 

Hopefully, this can also cultivate a sense that more neighbors = better neighborhoods 

Edited January 9Jan 9 by sonisharri

There is a need to fix street lights.https://www.news5cleveland.com/news/local-news/we-follow-through/why-are-all-the-lights-out-across-town-cle-resident-demands-streetlights-get-fixed-fears-for-safety 

On 2/25/2025 at 4:52 PM, simplythis said:

There is a need to fix street lights.https://www.news5cleveland.com/news/local-news/we-follow-through/why-are-all-the-lights-out-across-town-cle-resident-demands-streetlights-get-fixed-fears-for-safety 

 

Isnt there a city website where people can report streetlights that are out??

1 hour ago, dar124 said:

 

Isnt there a city website where people can report streetlights that are out??

There is on the CPP site.  I've used it before and they come out fairly quick (by City of Cleveland standards).

 

Half the problem in cities today is people spend hours complaining on Facebook, but no one ever thinks to actually report the problem to the city so it can be fixed.  

1 hour ago, Cleburger said:

There is on the CPP site.  I've used it before and they come out fairly quick (by City of Cleveland standards).

 

Half the problem in cities today is people spend hours complaining on Facebook, but no one ever thinks to actually report the problem to the city so it can be fixed.  

I thought the benefit of the new LED lights was they are able to monitor when they go out. 

cpp should be aware themselves when a mile long stretch of lakeside is out.  the downtown outages are crazy, it's entire blocks

Probably the Carnegie Ave streetscape improvements starting. Also apparently Midtown has a skatepark now??

 

Street tree work across most of the Innovation Square district

 

I'm very pro-construction, but damn the Euclid sidewalks/bike lanes are a mess...

Edited March 10Mar 10 by sonisharri

13 hours ago, sonisharri said:

Probably the Carnegie Ave streetscape improvements starting. Also apparently Midtown has a skatepark now??

 

Street tree work across most of the Innovation Square district

 

I'm very pro-construction, but damn the Euclid sidewalks/bike lanes are a mess...

That gravel has been there for years. I know the city is bootstrapped but there also seems to be a lack of urgency or importance placed on how things look. In my opinion it holds the city back greatly. 

6 minutes ago, OldEnough said:

That gravel has been there for years. I know the city is bootstrapped but there also seems to be a lack of urgency or importance placed on how things look. In my opinion it holds the city back greatly. 

 

Having used these bike lanes many times in the last few years, I'm very sure that they weren't nearly this bad last year. I agree completely with your second comment.

4 minutes ago, sonisharri said:

 

Having used these bike lanes many times in the last few years, I'm very sure that they weren't nearly this bad last year. I agree completely with your second comment.

 

Not necessarily giving the benefit of the doubt, but curious if they wait to do general road clean up until spring once snow season is over? 

12 minutes ago, Geowizical said:

 

Not necessarily giving the benefit of the doubt, but curious if they wait to do general road clean up until spring once snow season is over? 

 

I would think so because once they plow and it melts it's not going to look much better.

43 minutes ago, OldEnough said:

That gravel has been there for years. I know the city is bootstrapped but there also seems to be a lack of urgency or importance placed on how things look. In my opinion it holds the city back greatly. 

They honestly need to just rip up Euclid Avenue and do a complete re-do with asphalt because this concrete aged terribly. 

1 hour ago, Geowizical said:

 

Not necessarily giving the benefit of the doubt, but curious if they wait to do general road clean up until spring once snow season is over? 

I actually saw a street sweeper going down Detroit this morning, although it looks like it didn't get the bike lanes. 

 

1 hour ago, sonisharri said:

 

Having used these bike lanes many times in the last few years, I'm very sure that they weren't nearly this bad last year. I agree completely with your second comment.

Can also confirm they were clean last summer and fall. Some of the sidewalks are covered in the same plow debris as well. It makes a neighborhood that's supposed to be nice and walkable look like it's the complete opposite. 

Please report to 311. 

 

I'm as big a hater as the next person w/lack of maintenance in the city, but make sure you put a ticket in otherwise they can claim ignorance.

55 minutes ago, MyPhoneDead said:

They honestly need to just rip up Euclid Avenue and do a complete re-do with asphalt because this concrete aged terribly. 

 

To be fair it's already been almost 17 years since they paved Euclid... I'm not totally convinced that asphalt would be in much better condition after the same amount of time.

 

I'm not an engineer, but it seems like filling in broken concrete with new concrete would have been smarter than pouring asphalt on top, although maybe I don't know what I'm talking about. 

11 minutes ago, GISguy said:

Please report to 311. 

 

I'm as big a hater as the next person w/lack of maintenance in the city, but make sure you put a ticket in otherwise they can claim ignorance.

 

Good call. I put in a report for street debris.

16 minutes ago, sonisharri said:

 

To be fair it's already been almost 17 years since they paved Euclid... I'm not totally convinced that asphalt would be in much better condition after the same amount of time.

 

I'm not an engineer, but it seems like filling in broken concrete with new concrete would have been smarter than pouring asphalt on top, although maybe I don't know what I'm talking about. 

It has been in bad shape for years now though it didn't just start. I mentioned asphalt because it would simply be cheaper and less of a headache to replace and maintain. Look at the University Circle section of Euclid it is asphalt, gets more vehicle traffic and is in better shape. 

Edited March 10Mar 10 by MyPhoneDead

20 minutes ago, sonisharri said:

 

To be fair it's already been almost 17 years since they paved Euclid... I'm not totally convinced that asphalt would be in much better condition after the same amount of time.

 

I'm not an engineer, but it seems like filling in broken concrete with new concrete would have been smarter than pouring asphalt on top, although maybe I don't know what I'm talking about. 

 

Roadway engineer here! 👋 lol

 

The useful lifespan of a typical concrete roadway before repairs are needed is about 25 years give or take. For the bus lanes at least, those are heavy BRT buses frequently stopping and starting which can certainly wear out the concrete quicker. Also, looking at the various manholes at Euclid Ave intersections it seems they were not set correctly leading to extensive cracking and sinking you can even see from Google Maps. Not a smooth ride. Patching them up doesn't really help much.

 

If it was constructed 17 years ago then I'd say it's time to seriously consider reconstruction beginning no later than 5 years from now - given the state of it currently it wouldn't hurt to get started sooner. That being said, while full depth concrete is MUCH more expensive than asphalt, only the bus pads are required to be concrete. I'd recommend redoing all of Euclid Ave as asphalt with concrete pads at the stations only - this will reduce costs and as MyPhoneDead said, would be easier to maintain and replace, even though the lifespan of asphalt is only about 15 years.

 

Then, the bus lanes should be painted as they are in Richmond, VA (concrete pad outlined in blue, the rest is asphalt). This should help deter drivers from driving in the bus lanes somewhat as well.

 

On 3/10/2025 at 2:58 PM, Geowizical said:

 

Roadway engineer here! 👋 lol

 

The useful lifespan of a typical concrete roadway before repairs are needed is about 25 years give or take. For the bus lanes at least, those are heavy BRT buses frequently stopping and starting which can certainly wear out the concrete quicker. Also, looking at the various manholes at Euclid Ave intersections it seems they were not set correctly leading to extensive cracking and sinking you can even see from Google Maps. Not a smooth ride. Patching them up doesn't really help much.

 

If it was constructed 17 years ago then I'd say it's time to seriously consider reconstruction beginning no later than 5 years from now - given the state of it currently it wouldn't hurt to get started sooner. That being said, while full depth concrete is MUCH more expensive than asphalt, only the bus pads are required to be concrete. I'd recommend redoing all of Euclid Ave as asphalt with concrete pads at the stations only - this will reduce costs and as MyPhoneDead said, would be easier to maintain and replace, even though the lifespan of asphalt is only about 15 years.

 

Then, the bus lanes should be painted as they are in Richmond, VA (concrete pad outlined in blue, the rest is asphalt). This should help deter drivers from driving in the bus lanes somewhat as well.

 

I'm thinking they had a bad pour or mix as well for it to be crumbling this bad. I wonder if RCC would work here - I'm seeing it used more and more.

10 hours ago, columbus17 said:

I'm thinking they had a bad pour or mix as well for it to be crumbling this bad.

In other words, watered-down concrete poured by the lowest bidder, like 99% of all major public projects in NE Ohio?   We're looking at you Allega!