Changes Coming to Clifton Boulevard

[Bill Call]

https://www.countyplanning.us/projects/ ... onfluence/

[michael gill]

That highway style entrance/exit ramp on the RR side is ridiculous and should be either a roundabout or a simple surface intersection.

The bridge itself is way bigger than it needs to be, and the sidewalk on the North side would be vastly improved if it were two or three times as wide as it is.

Lakewood side ... maybe a solution in search of a problem, but maybe a roundabout would be a big improvement at Clifton/Lake/West Clifton.

I wish I could make the meeting.

[michael gill]

Having looked at the report and design, in my opinion the continued existence of the Marion Ramps is a significant shorcoming.

Besides being a safety hazzard for cyclists, that is an over-built waste of space. The solution to the hazzard represented by those highway style exit ramps seems to be riding on the sidewalk, with another ramp crossing.

Besides that, the ramp eats up a whole lot of land.

[Jim O'Bryan]

That highway style entrance/exit ramp on the RR side is ridiculous and should be either a roundabout or a simple surface intersection.

The bridge itself is way bigger than it needs to be, and the sidewalk on the North side would be vastly improved if it were two or three times as wide as it is.

Lakewood side ... maybe a solution in search of a problem, but maybe a roundabout would be a big improvement at Clifton/Lake/West Clifton.

I wish I could make the meeting.

Michael

The first time I wrote about this plan, the older esidents of Clifton Park were horrified by the round-a-bout. I explained that they are the norm all over the UK, Europe and well the rest of the world. They were horrified. I mentioned no more lights in their windows, they were horrified. I said the county is planning on putting a beautiful statue in the middle. They were horrified. I asked if they had tried the ones at Edgewater Park, or Route 83, they were horrified.

A roundabout is the only real answer, and proven every time to be the best.

Lakewood favorite past councilman Michael Dever is working on this so we are well represented at the table already.

Thanks for the post and followup.

.

[michael gill]

Looks like the only roundabout reccommendation is at Lake Road and Clifton--not at Clifton Rd and West Clifton.

Personally, I think the greater hazzards and waste of space are the highway style exit/entrance ramps on the RR side.

[Richard Baker]

Interesting, the bridge is part of Ohio Route 2 and 6, without ODOT's approval the cannot alter the traffic pattern on the bridge. West Clifton is where Clifton Blvd which becomes US Route 20 requiring the federal government DOT approval. I use the bridge frequently, living within two blocks of it, and I can count on one hand the number of bicyclists that I have seen on it. I’ve never seen a pedestrian walk across the bridge.

Lake Road is parallel to Clifton Road and is frequently used by bicyclist and pedestrians, runners, scooter boards, etc so why is there a need to change the traffic pattern of Clifton Blvd. If they change the intersection at West Clifton to single lane traffic, it will become a traffic nightmare. The more traffic is restricted to West Clifton the more traffic you will divert to narrow residential streets to access Detroit Ave.

Who is paying for these engineering plans and where are pedestrians, bicyclist, and vehicles traffic studies? This plan appears to be made by children playing with green crayons, totally ignorant of the traffic patterns and facts. If traffic does not justify the expense, the it not a service to the public.

[Dan OMalley]

Interesting, the bridge is part of Ohio Route 2 and 6, without ODOT's approval the cannot alter the traffic pattern on the bridge. West Clifton is where Clifton Blvd which becomes US Route 20 requiring the federal government DOT approval. I use the bridge frequently, living within two blocks of it, and I can count on one hand the number of bicyclists that I have seen on it. I’ve never seen a pedestrian walk across the bridge.

Lake Road is parallel to Clifton Road and is frequently used by bicyclist and pedestrians, runners, scooter boards, etc so why is there a need to change the traffic pattern of Clifton Blvd. If they change the intersection at West Clifton to single lane traffic, it will become a traffic nightmare. The more traffic is restricted to West Clifton the more traffic you will divert to narrow residential streets to access Detroit Ave.

Who is paying for these engineering plans and where are pedestrians, bicyclist, and vehicles traffic studies? This plan appears to be made by children playing with green crayons, totally ignorant of the traffic patterns and facts. If traffic does not justify the expense, the it not a service to the public.

Richard, I would encourage you to watch the video presentations within the link Bill provided. Those questions are answered. This project has been years in the making. The renderings are quite detailed. Bear in mind that both Lake Ave and Detroit in Rocky River are one lane. Then Clifton becomes one lane on the Lakewood side of the bridge. So why do we have a bridge that’s two-lanes in each direction in the middle? The fact that you don’t see many pedestrians crossing the bridge is rather the point, and hopefully these improvements will provide a lot more safety for everyone.

[michael gill]

Dan, was any serious consideration given to removal of the Marion ramps?

As one of the speakers in the video noted, this bridge was built years before I-90 came through, and consequentially was built like a highway.

In addition to the completion I-90 relieving traffic from the bridge, Lakewood and Cleveland both have significantly smaller populations now than when the bridge was built.

I don't understand the appeal or value of the Marion ramps. Not only are they dangerous, but they consume an enormous amount of land that Rocky River could probably put to better use. A single lane roundabout there would maintain traffic flow, consume much less land, and be much safer because it would calm traffic because motorists would not behave as if they were on an interstate highway.

Am I missing something?

[Tim Liston]

Dan O’Malley says: “The fact that you don’t see many pedestrians crossing the bridge is rather the point, and hopefully these improvements will provide a lot more safety for everyone.”

Absolutely agreed. The biggest reasons bikes and pedestrians don’t use the bridge are (1) it’s entirely unsuitable for non-motorists, and (2) there is no place interesting/useful to walk to.

That raised sidewalk in particular is unfriendly. Bikes/scooters can’t use it at all because it’s unsafe. Raised and too narrow (impossible) to pass pedestrians. You have to use the very narrow (with no shoulder at all) four-lane roadway and lots of cyclists are uncomfortable with that. When it’s made friendlier, cyclists from Rocky River can safely get over and take advantage of the cycling amenities in Lakewood and Cleveland. The Lake Road / Cleveland / Edgewater Park lanes/trails in particular. I ride them most days myself, to Edgewater Park, sometimes down to Wendy Park. (And the Whiskey Island Still opens on May 19th. Yay!)

I was at the meeting last night. There were folks who took issue with certain aspects of the plan (e.g. crosswalks) but everyone liked the bridge. Especially the cyclist sitting next to me.

One can quarrel about this or that but overall it’s a huge improvement. It will be interesting to see if the narrowing of the bridge and the couple blocks of Clifton that divide Clifton Park cause some motorists to start using the highway to get downtown.

By the way do you know what state in the U.S. has the most shared bike/pedestrian paths? Answer: Ohio. (https://www.cleveland.com/metro/2021/08 ... -maps.html)

[michael gill]

I agree it is a huge improvement, even if I am one of those cyclists who just uses the roadway.

Still, those superfluous ramps ...

[Richard Baker]

Dan,

What I still don’t see in this presentation of form over function is the traffic flow count of vehicles, bicycles and pedestrian traffic study. Reviewing the engineering design alternatives putting a stop sign at Clifton Road and Clifton Boulevard intersection is insanity, heading north on Clifton Road you can’t see traffic until it’s almost at the intersection. Closing two lanes is safety while ignoring the merging and exiting ramp traffic.

Then there is putting 10-foot-wide concrete planters on a bridge as a barrier, and a wooden deck or concrete fill for nonexistent pedestrian and bicycle traffic. No consideration of water runoff or snow removal.
Did anyone consult structural engineers when adding 2,304,000 lbs. of soil in concrete planters that weigh 164,000 lbs. equivalent to 685 cars/31 fully loaded semi trucks of static weight on the deck of the bridge in addition to the normal traffic load it was designed for?

[Jim O'Bryan]

Dan,

What I still don’t see in this presentation of form over function is the traffic flow count of vehicles, bicycles and pedestrian traffic study. Reviewing the engineering design alternatives putting a stop sign at Clifton Road and Clifton Boulevard intersection is insanity, heading north on Clifton Road you can’t see traffic until it’s almost at the intersection. Closing two lanes is safety while ignoring the merging and exiting ramp traffic.

Then there is putting 10-foot-wide concrete planters on a bridge as a barrier, and a wooden deck or concrete fill for nonexistent pedestrian and bicycle traffic. No consideration of water runoff or snow removal.
Did anyone consult structural engineers when adding 2,304,000 lbs. of soil in concrete planters that weigh 164,000 lbs. equivalent to 685 cars/31 fully loaded semi trucks of static weight on the deck of the bridge in addition to the normal traffic load it was designed for?

Richard

Many of the items you are asking for were covered in the roll out with links back to the county and the studies. I am sure they are still active.

http://lakewoodobserver.com/forum/viewt ... ts#p191988

Here is a link to the garage collapse, which was concrete poured for one thing, used for another, including dirt, grass and pets.

http://lakewoodobserver.com/forum/viewt ... ge#p192202

.

[Jim O'Bryan]

Dan,

What I still don’t see in this presentation of form over function is the traffic flow count of vehicles, bicycles and pedestrian traffic study. Reviewing the engineering design alternatives putting a stop sign at Clifton Road and Clifton Boulevard intersection is insanity, heading north on Clifton Road you can’t see traffic until it’s almost at the intersection. Closing two lanes is safety while ignoring the merging and exiting ramp traffic.

Then there is putting 10-foot-wide concrete planters on a bridge as a barrier, and a wooden deck or concrete fill for nonexistent pedestrian and bicycle traffic. No consideration of water runoff or snow removal.
Did anyone consult structural engineers when adding 2,304,000 lbs. of soil in concrete planters that weigh 164,000 lbs. equivalent to 685 cars/31 fully loaded semi trucks of static weight on the deck of the bridge in addition to the normal traffic load it was designed for?

Richard

Many of the items you are asking for were covered in the roll out with links back to the county and the studies.The link to the meeting is dead, but most of the rest are still active.

http://lakewoodobserver.com/forum/viewt ... ts#p191988

Here is a link to the garage collapse, which was concrete poured for one thing, used for another, including dirt, grass and pets.

http://lakewoodobserver.com/forum/viewt ... ge#p192202

.