February 13, 20205 yr It's not all bad news that certain property owners in the way of the OC have to move. Some would probably hold the city back if they realized their business plans. Edited February 13, 20205 yr by KJP "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
February 13, 20205 yr On 11/16/2019 at 7:56 AM, E Rocc said: I wouldn't be surprised to see it named after Harrison Dillard now. IMO that would be completely apropos. Certainly better than the Councilman T. J. Pocketstuffer Memorial Parkway or some such thing. Naming after Morgan might cause a couple of inquisitive kids to wonder who he was, though, finding a new role model who wasn't a politician, entertainer, athlete, or activist. TJ Pocketstuffer..lol
March 5, 20205 yr "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
March 19, 20205 yr Construction work for the third and final segment of the Opportunity Corridor is showing up on new satellite images. Note the near-continuous strip of disturbed soil from East 55th to East93rd. The top image is from Google Earth, July 2017. The bottom is the satellite image used for Cuyahoga County's MyPlace property search site. So perhaps the image is from sometime this past winter? Edited March 19, 20205 yr by KJP "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
April 7, 20205 yr It's a little outdated, but here's some cool drone footage of the E 55th/490 construction.
April 10, 20205 yr Here's an new video showing the same area. You can see the concrete beams for the bridge that will carry E 55th over OC.
July 1, 20204 yr Cross-posted in the Cleveland Rapid rail construction thread.... "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
August 31, 20204 yr 1 hour ago, infrafreak said: Hot off the presses... 1. I truly hate the Clip Art opportunity corridor logo 2. Was not expecting acoustic Metallica
August 31, 20204 yr 5 minutes ago, Enginerd said: 1. I truly hate the Clip Art opportunity corridor logo 2. Was not expecting acoustic Metallica Well, we can safely say that none of the $331.3 million budget was directed towards graphic designers. The acoustic Metallica was an interesting surprise. Tunneling under E-55th street and the bridge over the RTA tracks seems like the most substantial work that is obvious from this update. There's an ungodly amount of grading/earth-moving ahead. Between land remediation, utility work, the trail work, intersections/traffic lights...it's crazy how much is involved with a project of this size. Seeing all the mounds of fill dirt covered with vegetation makes the panning flyover shots pretty desolate looking.
September 1, 20204 yr The biggest project will be building the opportunity Corridor underneath the Norfolk Southern main line that links Chicago and the East Coast. It will involve building a shoofly for the railroad around the site which is not easy considering that there is another bridge just to the north of the new opportunity Corridor underpass. "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
November 23, 20204 yr Opportunity Corridor closure of I-490 extended to November 2021 Additional work and safety measures required on Opportunity Corridor Blvd. has delayed the opening of I-490 between I-77 and E. 55th Street to November 1, 2021, when the entire new stretch of the boulevard will be substantially open to traffic. Following a detailed review of the design plans, the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) requested a change to the grade – or slope – where I-490/Opportunity Blvd. passes under E. 55th St. The Design-Build Team’s plans met the minimum standards; however, ODOT preferred a more gradual slope in order to make the roadway safer for all users. This change added approximately six months of work and $4.6 million to the project. Additionally, unforeseen utility relocation delays have had an impact on the project schedule. The design and construction changes, and utility delays will not impact the overall completion of project in summer 2022. Originally, I-490 was set to open in late-May 2021. At that time, I-490 traffic would have only had access to E. 55th Street via the new quadrant roadway as the entire boulevard was not scheduled to be substantially open until early-November 2021. Concerns for pedestrian safety and traffic congestion along E. 55th St. also led the Department to delay the original opening of I-490 to the new Opportunity Corridor Blvd. The revised opening date for I-490 at E. 55th St. will now coincide with the substantial opening of the new boulevard between E. 55th St. and E. 93rd St. on November 1, 2021. Kokosing Construction Company, Inc. was awarded the design-build contract on the third and final section of the Opportunity Corridor with a bid amount of $150,858,250.00. Thirty million dollars under the estimated cost. The third and final phase of the Opportunity Corridor project will connect I-490/I-77 to E. 93rd Street, where Section 2 left off. Construction highlights will include two new pedestrian bridges, three new bridges located along the boulevard, one new bridge over the boulevard, one railroad bridge over the boulevard, six signalized intersections, new water mains, new major sanitary and storm sewers, along with tree lawns, sidewalks and a shared-use path. For a bird’s eye view of the work completed to date on section 3, check out this narrated aerial video. With the modified closure at I-490 and E. 55th St., a new project to make necessary repairs to the driving surface of the I-490 bridge over the Cuyahoga River Valley, between W. 7th St. and Broadway Ave., has been fast tracked. By completing this work in 2021 while I-490 is still closed, reduces the impacts to traffic and improves safety for motorists and construction workers. For more information about traffic restrictions and updates, please visit OpportunityCorridor.transportation.ohio.gov.
November 23, 20204 yr I wonder if anybody knows the answer to this? Will the speed limit from I-77 to E. 55th be a highway speed limit and then suddenly reduce to 35 MPH on the corridor once it hits 55th (similar to how the Shoreway was as it reached Clinton before the reconstruction-although I don't know anybody who actually drives 35MPH on the new Shoreway) or will it be 35MPH immediately upon exiting I-77?
November 23, 20204 yr Damn...that drone video skipped the part I'm most interested in -- the excavation below the NS railroad and the construction of NS's shoefly tracks. "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
November 23, 20204 yr 1 hour ago, Htsguy said: I wonder if anybody knows the answer to this? Will the speed limit from I-77 to E. 55th be a highway speed limit and then suddenly reduce to 35 MPH on the corridor once it hits 55th (similar to how the Shoreway was as it reached Clinton before the reconstruction-although I don't know anybody who actually drives 35MPH on the new Shoreway) or will it be 35MPH immediately upon exiting I-77? Isn't there going to be a traffic light just east of E 55th? If so, there could be some stopped traffic on the section between I-77 and E 55th, so I would think speed limit should be reduced there. My concern is that drivers from out-of-town may think it is still a highway and will continue travelling at highway speed. Maybe they will have to install some of those dreaded rumble strips. 😬
November 23, 20204 yr 4 minutes ago, skiwest said: Isn't there going to be a traffic light just east of E 55th? If so, there could be some stopped traffic on the section between I-77 and E 55th, so I would think speed limit should be reduced there. My concern is that drivers from out-of-town may think it is still a highway and will continue travelling at highway speed. Maybe they will have to install some of those dreaded rumble strips. 😬 Don't worry--there will be plenty of people from in-town traveling at highway speed. On my morning trips to the Clinic via Chester I routinely have people passing me doing 60-70 mph.
November 23, 20204 yr "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
December 11, 20204 yr Taco Slayer's at it again: We apparently missed this part 2 video from 10/31 showing the RTA bridge (cc: @KJP)
March 7, 20214 yr In addition to the January Update (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UivuWs5E5nE)... ...Taco Slayer also has updated footage for February and March:
March 8, 20214 yr Great to see TacoSlayer's updates, but at the current pace there is still an awful lot to do to open at the beginning of 2022.
March 8, 20214 yr 16 hours ago, Foraker said: Great to see TacoSlayer's updates, but at the current pace there is still an awful lot to do to open at the beginning of 2022. It took them long enough to excavate under the new E55 bridge! 13 hours ago, X said: That was some seriously dramatic music! I think the bass shook my whole house
March 20, 20214 yr On 3/8/2021 at 1:27 PM, infrafreak said: It took them long enough to excavate under the new E55 bridge! For comparison' sake: http://imgur.com/gallery/Ga0eBP6
March 20, 20214 yr If you go on https://myplace.cuyahogacounty.us/, they've uploaded new imagery from this past winter which shows the progress on the OC. It shows the bridge in place for East 55th but there are two box-shaped excavations just east of East 55th with no other apparent excavation next to it to get the new roadway down to its desired level. "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
March 25, 20214 yr On 3/20/2021 at 9:19 AM, KJP said: If you go on https://myplace.cuyahogacounty.us/, they've uploaded new imagery from this past winter which shows the progress on the OC. It shows the bridge in place for East 55th but there are two box-shaped excavations just east of East 55th with no other apparent excavation next to it to get the new roadway down to its desired level. I'll just chime in and say if you want to see a slider/timeframe check out our full viewer at https://gis.cuyahogacounty.us/html5viewer/?viewer=cegis, click basemaps to turn on the aerials and then you can use the time slider to see the imagery. FWIW this (and most imagery) was captured November-December of 2020. If you really want to dig in, click the 'Eagleview' button up top and get 45* obliques in every direction.
April 22, 20214 yr Critics say plans forged in secret for asphalt, concrete plants in Cleveland violate vision for Opportunity Corridor CLEVELAND, Ohio — Plans by the administration of Mayor Frank Jackson to sell a prime piece of land on the long-awaited Opportunity Corridor project to a nonprofit that, among other things, wants to build asphalt and concrete plants on the site have left leaders at organizations who work with the city on economic development around the road project surprised and dismayed. Leaders at Burten, Bell, Carr Development Inc., and the Fund for Our Economic Future have significant concerns about plans from Norm Edwards and Fred Perkins to place the campus of the workforce development-focused “Construction Opportunity Institute of Cleveland” on Opportunity Corridor. The proposal also left bad feelings about what they said was the city’s needless secrecy during planning, according to sources who spoke to cleveland.com and The Plain Dealer. These plans and the secrecy of the Frank Jackson administration is the exact reason I have very little faith Cleveland knows how to properly handle large redevelopments or neighborhood transformations such as this. https://www.cleveland.com/realestate-news/2021/04/critics-say-plans-forged-in-secret-for-asphalt-concrete-plants-in-cleveland-violate-vision-for-opportunity-corridor.html
April 22, 20214 yr Here is the proposed site plan. It shows the concrete and asphalt plant toward the rear of the property. That area needs less industrial use, not more. Its a block away from the E.79th station that was just rebuilt. Asphalt and concrete plants are dusty and smell. They will actively put off higher density use near the station.
April 22, 20214 yr They should stick with light industrial uses this belongs on the site near Arcelor.
May 8, 20214 yr On 3/19/2020 at 6:57 PM, KJP said: Construction work for the third and final segment of the Opportunity Corridor is showing up on new satellite images. Note the near-continuous strip of disturbed soil from East 55th to East93rd. The top image is from Google Earth, July 2017. The bottom is the satellite image used for Cuyahoga County's MyPlace property search site. So perhaps the image is from sometime this past winter? A fall 2020 aerial can be selected at CEGIS. It looks like the Sidaway Avenue Footbridge is now gone too. -- As for land use types, industrial uses can be permitted along the corridor and we should encourage a mix of commercial and industrial developments because they are the drivers of employment and tax revenue. It's not as if there isn't a surplus of residential land all throughout Cleveland in (more) desirable areas. Edited May 8, 20214 yr by seicer
May 8, 20214 yr How much of that residential land is within walking distance of two rail lines? This stretch of 79th would be best for higher density uses, and uses like a concrete factory are likely to make other development in the area even less likely due to the noise and dust that they generate. This is a sad commentary on either the City's vision for the area, or their competence in implementing that vision. Or both.
May 8, 20214 yr 40 minutes ago, X said: How much of that residential land is within walking distance of two rail lines? This stretch of 79th would be best for higher density uses, and uses like a concrete factory are likely to make other development in the area even less likely due to the noise and dust that they generate. This is a sad commentary on either the City's vision for the area, or their competence in implementing that vision. Or both. That's why I'd be fine with a light industrial/warehouse use. That would not preclude other residential uses. The asphalt plant belongs in the industrial valley near heavy industrial uses.
May 8, 20214 yr 6 hours ago, seicer said: It looks like the Sidaway Avenue Footbridge is now gone too. WTF? The only suspension bridge in CLE was removed? for what reason? Was obviously done in secret otherwise people would have resisted. Who tore it down? and why?
May 9, 20214 yr 4 hours ago, Pugu said: WTF? The only suspension bridge in CLE was removed? for what reason? Was obviously done in secret otherwise people would have resisted. Who tore it down? and why? Considering the history behind the bridge (never repaired reportedly as it connected a predominately white area with a black area of town) and it's advanced structural deterioration, there wasn't any value in saving it. The superstructure steel was rusted through in areas, the cables were frayed, and there was no deck. It wasn't in secret; the roadway literally goes through the old bridge and it's been known for a while.
May 9, 20214 yr 12 hours ago, seicer said: As for land use types, industrial uses can be permitted along the corridor and we should encourage a mix of commercial and industrial developments because they are the drivers of employment and tax revenue. It's not as if there isn't a surplus of residential land all throughout Cleveland in (more) desirable areas. Most industrial uses discourage the kind of commercial and residential use that was pitched when this project was proposed. Back when they were trying to convince people this would be more than just a cut-through to University Circle.
May 9, 20214 yr 2 hours ago, seicer said: Considering the history behind the bridge (never repaired reportedly as it connected a predominately white area with a black area of town)... Before it connected two black neighborhoods, it connected two white parts of town---a Hungarian hood to a Polish hood. It was a great piece of Cleveland history...very sad that its gone.
May 9, 20214 yr I enjoyed taking explorers there to photograph it. The vines that grew all along the superstructure gave it a very eerie appearance. The presence of dozens of shot bullets we found one day gave it a different context.
May 11, 20214 yr On 5/9/2021 at 7:20 PM, seicer said: I enjoyed taking explorers there to photograph it. The vines that grew all along the superstructure gave it a very eerie appearance. The presence of dozens of shot bullets we found one day gave it a different context. Well, if it was torn down, then this is one of the stranger rebuilds I've ever seen. (I took this photo Monday evening)
May 11, 20214 yr I'd like to see them preserve this structure and create an exhibit about its history and also dedicated to civil rights and the legacy of racism in Cleveland.
May 13, 20214 yr Also I rode the entirety of the OC on my trusty gravel bike during that ride and they're making some real progress in most spots. The retaining wall around E55 is probably one of the more impressive portions at this point, it's almost like a canyon. The underpass at 55 is done (not paved), bridge near Kingsbury Run valley still needs to be built, bridge over RTA tracks around Colfax is 75% there, area under mainline RR tracks is still being worked on (Grand Ave-ish), otherwise, the majority of it is graded out and portions in non-construction areas are starting to get paved.
May 13, 20214 yr 32 minutes ago, GISguy said: Also I rode the entirety of the OC on my trusty gravel bike during that ride and they're making some real progress in most spots. The retaining wall around E55 is probably one of the more impressive portions at this point, it's almost like a canyon. The underpass at 55 is done (not paved), bridge near Kingsbury Run valley still needs to be built, bridge over RTA tracks around Colfax is 75% there, area under mainline RR tracks is still being worked on (Grand Ave-ish), otherwise, the majority of it is graded out and portions in non-construction areas are starting to get paved. Pics or it didn't happen. No seriously, did you take any pics?
May 13, 20214 yr 19 hours ago, freefourur said: Pics or it didn't happen. No seriously, did you take any pics? lol I actually didn't get many, was too focused on the bumpy ride I did however catch a dude flying a mini plane (using the fresh pavement as a runway lol). https://streamable.com/kj2kfy It didn't work out for him hah (btw you can see the new RR bridge in the background) Edited May 14, 20214 yr by GISguy
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