NOACA and ODOT evaluate alternatives to improve congestion in I-71 corridor around Brunswick and Strongsville

BRUNSWICK — The Northeast Ohio Area Coordinating Agency and the Ohio Department of Transportation removed an Interstate 71 interchange at Boston Road from further consideration while exploring alternatives to reduce congestion in the I-71 corridor. The I-71 Crossroads Regional Transportation study looks at state Route 303 to the south, U.S. 42 to the north and west and West 130th Street to the east and gives feedback on potential transportation improvements within that section of Strongsville and Brunswick. The results of the alternatives evaluation for the study were recently made public. The primary need within the area is to ease congestion on state Route 82 from Howe Road to the I-71 interchange ramps, Howe Road from Southpark Center to Shurmer Road and state Route 303 from N. Carpenter Road to the I-71 interchange ramps. The secondary need is to ease traffic congestion at the following local roadways: State Route 82 and U.S. 42 intersection. State Route 82 from Southpark west to Southpark east. Drake Road from Howe Road to Hunt Road. Boston Road and N. Carpenter Road intersection. U.S. 42 and Grafton Road intersection. Grafton Road and N. Carpenter Road intersection. W. 130th Street and Grafton Road intersection. U.S. 42 and state Route 303. State Route 303 and W. 130th Street. As a result, six build alternatives were developed to determine what could meet the project's primary and secondary needs. An interchange at Boston Road, an interchange at Grafton Road and local road improvements alone were all removed from further consideration. A Grafton Road interchange and standalone local road improvements did not meet the primary need, but local road improvements could improve the other build alternatives. A Boston Road interchange addressed the project needs but also includes the following: Five potential relocations Two potential major utility conflicts Likely requires the most local road improvements. Likely requires the most right-of-way acquisition and costs the most. Therefore, further evaluation was done instead on making upgrades to the state Route 82 interchange, an interchange on Drake Road and a collector-distributor road to Howe Road. Making upgrades to the state Route 82 interchange addressed the project needs but also resulted in the following: An overall increase in local traffic volumes. The second highest amount of dwellings impacted by noise levels due to the widening. A moderate improvement in overall travel times. The most amount of improvements to local roadways. Most challenging to construct and would have the greatest impact on traffic during construction. Most costly alternative. The collector-distributor road to Howe Road would also have the following impacts: An overall increase in local traffic volumes. Most amount of dwellings impacted by noise levels due to the widening. Moderate improvement in overall travel times. Requires the most amount of private property to be converted to right-of-way. Second highest cost alternative. Due to these factors, upgrading the state Route 82 interchange and having a collector-distributor road to Howe Road were considered lesser-performing build alternatives. The best performing build alternative is an interchange at Drake Road due to the following: Overall decrease in traffic on local roads, including Howe Road, but the traffic volume on Drake Road will increase. Greatest travel time improvements across the study area. Fewest improvements to local roads. Lowest cost alternative. Lowest amount of dwellings impacted by noise levels due to the widening. Does not impact the Drake Road fire station and instead improves emergency response because of the improved connectivity and travel times. A Drake Road interchange has three potential relocations and would require widening Drake Road. For more information on the project, visit tinyurl.com/46wh9699. Contact reporter Madisyn Woodring at 330-721-4049 or mwoodring@medina-gazette.com.