Funding Approved for Pearl Road Widening

Gov. John Kasich’s Jobs and Transportation Plan has been approved, including $6 million for Strongsville to widen Pearl Road.

The state’s Transportation Review Advisory Council (TRAC) voted unanimously to put the governor's plan into action.

Kasich has said the overall plan will create 60,000 new jobs and help grow Ohio’s economy with a $3 billion investment in infrastructure over six years. 

Strongsville has awarded Fabrizi Trucking and Paving a $7.05 million contract for construction of the project, which will widen Route 42 from where it narrows near Drake Road south to the city limits at Boston Road.

The total project is estimated at $11.5 million, including property acquisition.

In addition to the Ohio Department of Transportation grant, the Northeast Ohio Areawide Coordinating Agency came up with almost $1 million, city officials have said.

Also, Ohio is offering the city a no-interest $2.3 million loan.

It will be enough to get the job done, according to Mayor Tom Perciak, who said the city will probably take short-term notes to cover the rest.

Perciak has been pushing for the widening since the day construction wrapped up on the previous section, which added lanes from the post office to a point south of Drake Road.

The city has spent the last year acquiring right of way for the project. Construction is expected to start later this fall and take about a year.

A complete list of all projects TRAC approved for construction throughout the state in the coming years is located here.