Ridge Road intersection improvements to be made in Wickliffe, pending approvals
Aug. 23—The final agreements are being made on a signal and intersection improvement project in Wickliffe.
The improvements are to take place at the intersections of Ridge Road, Rockefeller Road and Buena Vista Drive and Ridge Road and Lincoln Road in Wickliffe. The project involves both the federal government and the state as well as Wickliffe.
According to the city, the project will include upgrading the five-way intersection into a four-way one, with traffic signal replacements and upgrades, signing, striping, vehicle detection, curbs, ADA curb ramps and sidewalks.
Upon completion of the signal and intersection improvements project, unless otherwise agreed, the Local Public Agency, in this case Wickliffe, will provide maintenance for the project, financial provisions as necessary for the maintenance, maintain the right-of-way, keeping it free of obstructions and hold said right-of-way inviolate for public highway purposes, according to the city.
After applying to the Northeast Ohio Areawide Coordinating Agency for funding assistance, Wickliffe received Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Improvement funding. The CMAQ program is a federal program through the U.S. Department of Transportation that provides funds to states for transportation projects that are designed to reduce traffic congestion and improve air quality, particularly in areas of the country that do not attain national air quality standards, according to City Engineer Peter Formica.
The total estimated cost of the project was $407,150. The funding Wickliffe received totaled to $282,850, leaving the city responsible for the remaining $124,300.
"Wickliffe is grateful for this funding, which will allow for the improvements to benefit residents with regard to both air quality and traffic flow," Formica said.
In light of Wickliffe Schools' new K-12 campus, on schedule to open this weekend, the city has been working to figure out ways to better the Rockefeller and Ridge roads intersection as traffic is expected to increase, Mayor Joe Sakacs said.
"The traffic there right now is ridiculous and there's going to be three schools there, so it's going to be even crazier," he said. "I do believe we will be successful. I'm working with the schools on the best use of where the middle school and elementary school are — the central hub of our town."
Sakacs has previously said that the area has both commercial and residential opportunities, which could be a game changer if executed correctly.
Earlier this year, Formica said construction on the project will not be complete prior to the start of the 2023-2024 school year. The city has been collaborating to come up with ideas to adjust the timings to ease things at the intersection until construction can begin.
"At first, the funds were not going to be available until 2026, but we were able to pull some strings and get the project timeline moved up," Formica said. "We completed the plans in January and finally were able to get the ODOT meeting. The issue now is their process and timelines for review and approval of plans, bidding, etc."
