AKRON, Ohio — After 70 years of carrying traffic over various railroads, North Street, and the Little Cuyahoga River in Akron, the State Route 8 bridge will be replaced with a new structure.
On Friday, Akron Mayor Dan Horrigan was joined by Ohio Department of Transportation Director Jack Marchbanks and other officials for a groundbreaking ceremony marking the start of the State Route 8 bridge replacement project.
The replacement bridge will add a fourth lane in each direction to help improve traffic flow and reduce congestion. For SR-8 north, the northbound entrance ramp from Perkins Street will essentially be extended across the bridge to become the exit ramp for the Glenwood Avenue interchange. For SR-8 south, the southbound entrance ramp from Glenwood Avenue will extend across the bridge to the exit ramp for the Perkins Street interchange.
The estimated cost of the project is $158 million, with an anticipated completion date of summer 2028.
The good news is that motorists won't experience much of a difference during the five-year construction as SR-8 traffic will continue to travel on the existing bridge while the new one is built. All six lanes of SR-8 traffic will then be shifted onto the new bridge. The existing SR-8 bridge will be removed, and the second new bridge will be constructed in the same location.
ODOT notes that the State Route 8 bridge, which carries over 114,000 vehicles per day, "is a vital component of the transportation infrastructure in Northeast Ohio." Originally built in 1953, the bridge has undergone numerous repairs and has reached its expected lifespan, opening the door for a replacement to be built.
"This bridge replacement project and everyone involved with it embodies the department’s mission to provide a transportation system that is safe, well-maintained, accessible, and positioned for the future." said Marchbanks.
ODOT says noise walls will be constructed along SR-8 at four locations:
- on the west side of SR 8 between Glenwood Avenue and Lookout Park
- on the east side of SR 8 between the former Naval and Marine Corps Reserve Center and Celebration Church
- on the west side of SR 8 between Adams Street and Perkins Street
- on the east side of SR 8 between Adams Street and Perkins Street
"This project required significant coordination with numerous stakeholders, agencies, local partners and federal highway." added District 4 Deputy Director Gery Noirot. "I would like to thank everyone who has put the work into making this critical project a reality."
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