Opportunity Corridor
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Route information | ||||
Maintained by ODOT | ||||
Existed | 2008–present | |||
Restrictions | Closed between I-77 & East 93rd Street until late 2021 | |||
Incomplete Section | ||||
West end | ![]() ![]() | |||
Major junctions | ||||
East end | East 93rd Street in Cleveland | |||
Completed Section | ||||
West end | East 93rd Street in Cleveland | |||
Major junctions | ![]() | |||
East end | ![]() | |||
Location | ||||
Counties | Cuyahoga | |||
Highway system | ||||
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The Opportunity Corridor is a boulevard in Cleveland, Ohio, partially open to traffic and partially under construction as of 2020, that is planned to connect Interstate 77 (I-77) and I-490 to the University Circle neighborhood. "The purpose of the project is to improve the roadway network within a historically under-served, economically depressed area within the City of Cleveland."[1]
History[]
In the 1960s, Cuyahoga County had planned to build a freeway called the Clark Freeway in Cleveland and its environs, part of a network of planned freeways.[2] The entirety of I-490, along with a portion of what later became I-90 westward from the I-71/I-90/I-490 interchange, was built as a result of this project. However, the road was initially proposed to extend to the Outer-belt East Freeway (I-271). The route was ultimately truncated to East 55th Street as a result of freeway revolts.
Later plans for a highway along this general routing included a plan to build a freeway northeastward from East 55th Street to the Cleveland Memorial Shoreway (I-90 and State Route 2, SR 2), but this plan was rejected in 2002.[3] The route was again proposed by Ken Blackwell during his failed bid for governor in 2006.[4]
Active project[]
The current project as of 2019, part of the Inner-belt reconstruction project, involves building a boulevard to connect I-490 to the University Circle neighborhood. This iteration was conceived in 2008,[5] though references to it existed as early as 2003;[6] its record of decision was issued in May 2014.[1][7] Construction began in March 2015 along the portion east of East 93rd Street;[8][9] this portion opened in two segments in late 2017 and November 2018.[10] The target date for the completion of the rest of the road is November 1, 2021, and for the project as a whole, 2022.[11][12]
The Ohio Department of Transportation has proposed that the road receive an extension of the Ohio State Route 10 designation.[13][14] ODOT has designated the road while under construction SR 10F[14] and SR 10P.[15]
The project was estimated in April 2013 to cost $331.3 million by the Federal Highway Administration, or about $100 million per mile.[16]
Opposition[]
The Opportunity Corridor has a number of opponents, including a grassroots group, Clevelanders for Transportation Equity.[17] Many of the objections are rooted in the upheaval of the local community, which is predominantly lower income and African-American.[18][19]
Other local critiques include a report by the Cleveland Urban Design Collaborative in which concerns are raised regarding a lack of comprehensive vision, lack of meaningful community engagement, poorly designed green infrastructure, and the absence of true multi-modal integration.[20]
The Opportunity Corridor was also featured in a report by the United States Public Interest Research Group titled, "Highway Boondoggles: Wasted Money and America’s Transportation Future".[21] This report highlights ODOT's poor enforcement of their “fix-it-first” policy as well as the stagnant Vehicle Miles Traveled statistics for the region in contrast with the increased ridership on the Regional Transit Authority.[22]
Major intersections[]
The entire route is in Cleveland, Cuyahoga County.
mi | km | Destinations | Notes | ||
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0.0 | 0.0 | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() | Continuation beyond future western terminus | ||
East 55th Street | Future western terminus; one-quadrant interchange is under construction; to be finished in fall 2021[23] | ||||
![]() ![]() | Under construction; to be finished in fall 2021[23] | ||||
![]() | Under construction; to be finished in fall 2021[23] | ||||
East 93rd Street | Current western terminus | ||||
Quincy Avenue | Signed as East 105th Street beyond this junction | ||||
![]() | |||||
![]() | Eastern terminus | ||||
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi
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References[]
- ^ Jump up to: a b HNTB (May 1, 2014). The Cleveland Opportunity Corridor Project: Final Environmental Impact Statement / Record of Decision (PDF). Federal Highway Administration/Ohio Department of Transportation. Retrieved May 30, 2014.
- ^ Cuyahoga County, Ohio (August 1966). "Route Location Studies: Clark Freeway, East 55th Street to Outer Belt East Freeway (Report Number 8)". Howard, Needles, Tammen & Bergendoff. Retrieved March 2, 2019.
- ^ Exner, Rich (February 15, 2002). "East Side Highway Options Hit Wall: State, Federal Officials Urge Scrapping Plan". The Plain Dealer. Cleveland.
- ^ Wendling, Ted (August 18, 2006). "Foe Blasts Blackwell's 'Summit' with Contractors". The Plain Dealer. Cleveland.
- ^ Nichols, Jim (June 27, 2008). "Cleveland's Opportunity Corridor Project Gets Back on Track". The Plain Dealer. Cleveland. Retrieved June 30, 2008.
- ^ Exner, Rich (December 10, 2003). "Proposal made to improve access to University Circle". The Plain Dealer.
- ^ Grant, Alison (May 29, 2014). "Opportunity Corridor Gets Federal Signoff, Clearing Way for 3.5-Mile Boulevard". The Plain Dealer. Cleveland. Retrieved May 30, 2014.
- ^ Grant, Alison (December 18, 2014). "Inner Belt, Opportunity Corridor Move Along, Road Repair Plan Nixed". The Plain Dealer. Cleveland. Retrieved December 19, 2014.
- ^ Grant, Alison (March 13, 2015). "Opportunity Corridor Crews Begin Work on Monday Along a Section of East 105th Street". The Plain Dealer. Cleveland. Retrieved March 19, 2015.
- ^ District 12 (November 29, 2018). "Officials cut the ribbon on Opportunity Corridor Section 2" (Press release). Ohio Department of Transportation District 12. Retrieved December 1, 2018.
- ^ Litt, Steven (February 14, 2018). "Opportunity Corridor is Back on Track for 2021 Completion after Delay Caused by Taxpayer Lawsuit". The Plain Dealer. Cleveland. Retrieved February 14, 2018.
- ^ Higgs, Robert (November 24, 2020). "Change in Design Will Extend I-490 Construction Work at Opportunity Corridor an Extra Six Months". The Plain Dealer. Cleveland. Retrieved November 25, 2020.
- ^ City of Cleveland (October 1, 2013). "Opportunity Corridor Public Hearing" (PDF). City of Cleveland. p. 19. Retrieved December 12, 2013.
- ^ Jump up to: a b Ohio Department of Transportation (January 2020). "ODOT District 12: 2020 Construction Program" (PDF). Ohio Department of Transportation. pp. 3, 16. Retrieved December 5, 2020.
- ^ "Technical Services Straight Line Diagram for SR00010P" (PDF). Ohio Department of Transportation. May 7, 2020.
- ^ "Project Overview". Ohio Department of Transportation. Retrieved September 28, 2019.
- ^ Clevelanders for Transportation Equity. "Clevelanders for Transportation Equity". Clevelanders for Transportation Equity. Retrieved December 13, 2013.
- ^ Breckenridge, Tom (July 18, 2011). "Opportunity Corridor's Latest Alignment Would Uproot More than 90 Families, a Dozen Businesses". The Plain Dealer. Cleveland. Retrieved July 19, 2011.
- ^ Stocking, Chris. "Opportunity Nowhere: The Beginner's Guide to Being Outraged Over the $330-Million Opportunity Corridor". Cleveland Scene. Retrieved July 16, 2019.
- ^ Cleveland Urban Design Collaborative (March 4, 2014). "Advancing Opportunities: Cleveland's Opportunity Corridor". Retrieved September 28, 2019.
- ^ U.S. Public Interest Research Group (September 18, 2014). "Report: 21st Century Transportation". Retrieved September 28, 2019.
- ^ Inglis, Jeff; Baxandall, Phineas (September 18, 2014). "Highway Boondoggles: Wasted Money and America's Transportation Future" (PDF). U.S. Public Interest Research Group. Retrieved September 28, 2019.
- ^ Jump up to: a b c "Opportunity Corridor (Section 3)". Retrieved September 5, 2020.
Further reading[]
- Breckenridge, Tom (September 18, 2010). "Homes, businesses in Cleveland neighborhoods would be leveled to make way for Opportunity Corridor". The Plain Dealer. Cleveland. Retrieved September 22, 2010.
External links[]
- Opportunity Corridor by Ohio Department of Transportation
- Streets in Cleveland