What we know about East Market Street resurfacing: Get ready for a whole new look in 2024
A long section of East Market Street, one of Akron's heaviest-traveled thoroughfares, is scheduled to undergo a makeover next year that officials hope will reduce speeding and auto accidents while improving the road surface.
The city of Akron will resurface 3.5 miles of road along East Market Street, extending from High Street in the heart of downtown to the I-76 westbound ramp. A lane reduction also will occur between East Buchtel Avenue and Case Avenue, as well as between Innovation Way and I-76.
According to a release from the Akron Engineering Bureau, curb ramps will be constructed where missing, and those in poor condition will be replaced. Utility castings in the road will be adjusted for a smoother riding surface. A bike lane or on-street parking will be included within the lane reductions.
"The Market Street resurfacing project covers one of the busiest roads in Akron, where problems with speeding and accidents have always been some of our main concerns," said Christine Jonke, the Akron Engineering Bureau's design division manager. "We think this project will reduce accidents and keep this busy roadway safe for both drivers and pedestrians."
How much will East Market Street project cost, and when will it start?
The cost estimate for this project is $2.5 million, which will be covered by state funds from the Ohio Department of Transportation.
The construction is slated to begin next spring, "once the cold weather breaks," Jonke said. "It's hard to give an exact timeline of when construction will begin and how long the project will last, but we know once spring hits is when the road resurfacing will begin."
What safety concerns are sparking the lane restructuring?
Traffic accident data provided by the city show a total of 238 accidents since 2018 on East Market Street between East Buchtel Avenue and Case Avenue. Similarly, there have been 131 traffic accidents on East Market between Innovation Way and I-76 since 2018. Many of the accidents are rear-end collisions, in which vehicles are stopping or slowing down. Sideswipe accidents from changing lanes make up 66 of the crashes.
"These types of accidents may be reduced by changing the roadway striping from two travel lanes in each direction to one travel lane in each direction with a two-way left turn lane in the middle of the roadway," the Engineering Bureau said in its release.
The lane reduction affecting East Buchtel Avenue to I-76 should not have any detrimental effects on travel time, city officials said.
How does the resurfacing affect hospitals, higher education and businesses?
In addition to creating some detours and delays next year for drivers who rely on East Market Street as Akron's primary cross-town connector, the construction phase will have short-term impacts on some major business, medical and educational campuses along the route. Summa Akron City Hospital, the University of Akron and Stark State College Akron will be affected as well as the East End district — home to the Babcock & Wilcox headquarters — and the nearby Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. headquarters on Innovation Way.
"We are concerned with keeping employees and pedestrians safe around Summa Akron City Hospital, and traffic will remain two lanes in both directions so that emergency vehicles can quickly enter and exit the hospital, and keep the traffic flowing," Jonke noted.
Public comment period is open through June 19
Residents are invited to submit comments on the plan by June 19 to cJonke@akronohio.gov or mail them to Akron Engineering Bureau, 166 S. High St., Design Division Room 701, Akron, OH,44308, Attn: Matthew Neff.
Reporter Anthony Thompson can be reached at ajthompson@gannett.com. or on Twitter @ athompsonABJ
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Akron to reduce lanes on East Market Street with 2024 resurfacing
