Ball Already Rolling on Pearl Road Widening Phase 2
City hires firm to acquire right-of-way
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Less than a month after learning the Pearl Road widening project was back on track for next year, the city has already taken the next step toward getting construction started.
City Council on Monday hired O.R. Colan Associates of Florida to start right-of-way acquisition for the project, which will widen Pearl Road from where it narrows near Ellsworth Drive to the city limits at Boston Road.
"Another piece of the process is under way," Ward 4 Councilman Scott Maloney said.
The firm will be paid up to $216,270 for the work.
The stalled project was revived in June when months of lobbying by Mayor Tom Perciak paid off and the Ohio Department of Transportation agreed to give the city $6 million in 2013.
Earlier this year, ODOT, citing a funding crunch, had pushed back funding until 2019.
"I can't tell you how many trips to Columbus, how many phone calls, how many meetings this took," Perciak said in early June after learning funding was restored.
The pace of the project was fast from the get-go.
City officials first got word in April 2011 -- while the first section of the widening was still in progress -- that the state had awarded the next phase of the Pearl Road widening project $6 million.
A week later, the city hired Euthenics Inc., a Cleveland civil engineering firm, to design the plans for about $900,000.
When ODOT pulled the funding in January, the city never slowed its planning.
"We didn't sit back and cry about it," Perciak said. "We went ahead and finished the engineering and we got the project shovel-ready."
The state money will pay about half the $12 million project. The city plans to contribute $3 million and expects to use additional grants to pay the remaining $3 to $4 million.
Perciak said the widening is crucial to business development on Pearl Road and will provide potential manufacturing firms better access in and out of town when the city develops a new section of Foltz Industrial Park.
Tom Brennan
4:46 pm on Thursday, July 5, 2012
One more time, where are the priorities?
"Perciak said the widening is crucial to business development on Pearl Road and will provide potential manufacturing firms better access in and out of town when the city develops a new section of Foltz Industrial Park."
Just a couple of troublesome facts: 1. The Catan family owns at least 49, some say 60, acres of land on the west side of Pearl south of Drake. 2. As of now, commercial truck trafiic is prohibited on Drake westbound from Pearl towards the Foltz Industrial Park, as well as prohibited on Prospect south of 82, and on Drake east of Pearl. Not sure about Boston Rd., but does anyone really think tractor trailers can safely traverse the narrow roadway and the inclines going up and down the intersection at Pearl? So, how will all this commercial truck traffic make it from this "widened" section of Pearl over to Foltz? Maybe they'll just cut through Waterford Crossing, makes about as much sense.
Tom Brennan
5:40 pm on Thursday, July 5, 2012
Thanks to Google: On August 8, 1976 eight people died in a crash on the Granger Road hill in Garfield Hts. after the brakes on a truck failed and it hit several cars. Yes, technology is better these days. But, enough said.
tom m
6:11 pm on Thursday, July 5, 2012
trucks are allowed on marks road and on rte 252 ..... both are 2 lane roads .... and boston hill is no steeper than the hill on pearl road north
lyn
7:20 pm on Thursday, July 5, 2012
tom m -
If just as steep, it must be an illusion because it sure seems as though there is more of a grade and Boston seems to be much narrower of a road. Even driving in that area during winter conditions, I consider these factors in deciding which way to drive, and Pearl wins.
tom m
7:34 pm on Thursday, July 5, 2012
I was just pointing out that compairing 1976 granger road and 2012 boston road as a reason is a stretch ( and no I do not think a semi should ever be allowed on boston road as long as it is a 2 lane road)
Tom Brennan
7:11 pm on Thursday, July 5, 2012
So that makes this whole plan okay?
lyn
7:36 pm on Thursday, July 5, 2012
An FYI-
As soon as you turn off Pearl onto Boston, there is a sign with a picture of a truck, with a red circle and a line crossing through it. So, I would say that means no trucks permitted.
Now, that means, trucks must get to Foltz via 82 from the east. So, widening Pearl DOES NOT BENEFIT any expansion of Foltz industrial area.
Conclusion, the reason the mayor used to get funds was less than truthful. IN MY OPINION. Also, one of the main reasons he has given to the taxpayers of Strongsville on why we need to spend millions of our own money was also less than truthful. Again, IN MY OPINION.
lyn
7:41 pm on Thursday, July 5, 2012
Tom - Sorry. I changed my comment slightly and so yours got deleted also. Can you repost?
lyn
7:43 pm on Thursday, July 5, 2012
And tom...same thing ... sorry
Tom Brennan
8:28 pm on Thursday, July 5, 2012
Lyn, don't know why that happens....Anyhow, your point about the signs on Boston was right on. Bottom line is that commercial truck traffic (as of now) is prohibited on all of these roadways. Does the city have the power to change those restrictions, or is this an ODOT issue? I don't know, but I'll steal a line from you: IN MY OPINION" this whole issue revolves around create a benefit for one the most powerful families in Strongsville. It has nothing to with what's best for the majority. We don't count. Just go back and consider the fact that Albion Road north of Bonnie Park remains closed over a year later. And consider the fact that the police chief, the fire chief, and the Ward 1 councilman are directly affected by the closure. Again, enough said about the supposed "priorities".
tom m
8:33 pm on Thursday, July 5, 2012
lyn just wanted to do some tom deleting