Politics & Government

Waiting Begins on Lengthy Howe Avenue Reconstruction Project

The money is there to fund the costly road improvement, but due to the design and planning process, the project probably won't begin construction till 2016 or 2017.

The good news is, Cuyahoga Falls city officials have secured funding to reconstruct Howe Avenue from Main Street to Bucholzer Boulevard; the bad news is, construction probably won't begin for another four or five years.

According to Cuyahoga Falls Engineer Tony Demasi, the first step consists of completing a three-year design plan. Then, by about 2015, the project would be bid out by the Ohio Department of Transportation in order to hire the necessary contractors for construction.

Construction would most likely be underway by 2016 or 2017, and it could be complete in one year, or possibly two. The road will remain open in each direction during the improvement process. 

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Design and construction would cost the city roughly $1.4 million with the other money coming from AMATS (Akron Metropolitan Area Transportation Study) surface transportation program funds.

Demasi noted that current plans don’t call for a widening of Howe, but there has been discussion about updating the traffic lights to improve the flow of everyday commuters and emergency vehicles.

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Demasi said the “street department will maintain the road the best it can until construction begins.” Maintenance will mainly consist of patching cracks and ruts with asphalt.

The Cuyahoga Falls Public and Industrial Improvements Committee unanimously approved the reconstruction resolution on Monday night. Final approval is expected at the next City Council meeting on Monday, Sept. 24.


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