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Opportunity Corridor

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State Route 10 marker
State Route 10
Opportunity Corridor Boulevard
Route information
Existed2008–present
Major junctions
West end I-490 / I-77 in Cleveland
Major intersections
East end US 322 in Cleveland
Location
CountryUnited States
StateOhio
CountiesCuyahoga
Highway system
  • Ohio State Highway System

The Opportunity Corridor is a linear project in Cleveland, Ohio, with a boulevard that connects 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] The corridor is entirely concurrent with Ohio State Route 10.

History

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Opportunity Corridor near East 55th Street
Further information: Interstate 490 (Ohio) § 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), 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]

The road as built, part of the Inner-belt reconstruction project, is a boulevard connecting 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] After various delays,[11][12] the last section opened November 12, 2021.[13]

The project was estimated in April 2013 to cost $331.3 million by the Federal Highway Administration, or about $100 million per mile.[14]

As of 2023, several building projects were underway along the boulevard.[15]

Opposition

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The Opportunity Corridor has a number of opponents, including a grassroots group, Clevelanders for Transportation Equity.[16] Many of the objections are rooted in the upheaval of the local community, which is predominantly lower income and African-American.[17][18]

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.[19]

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".[20] 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.[21]

Major intersections

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The entire route is in Cleveland, Cuyahoga County.

mikmDestinationsNotes
0.00.0


 I-490 west (Troy Lee James Highway) to I-77 / I-90		Continuation beyond western terminus
Quadrant Road (to East 55th Street)Western terminus; one-quadrant interchange[22]
US 422 / SR 8 (Kinsman Road)
SR 87 (Buckeye Road)
Quincy AvenueRuns along East 105th Street beyond this junction
US 20 (Euclid Avenue)
US 322 (Chester Avenue)Eastern terminus
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi

References

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  1. ^ 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.
  2. ^ 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.
  3. ^ Exner, Rich (February 15, 2002). "East Side Highway Options Hit Wall: State, Federal Officials Urge Scrapping Plan". The Plain Dealer. Cleveland.
  4. ^ Wendling, Ted (August 18, 2006). "Foe Blasts Blackwell's 'Summit' with Contractors". The Plain Dealer. Cleveland.
  5. ^ Nichols, Jim (June 27, 2008). "Cleveland's Opportunity Corridor Project Gets Back on Track". The Plain Dealer. Cleveland. Retrieved June 30, 2008.
  6. ^ Exner, Rich (December 10, 2003). "Proposal made to improve access to University Circle". The Plain Dealer.
  7. ^ 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.
  8. ^ Grant, Alison (December 18, 2014). "Inner Belt, Opportunity Corridor Move Along, Road Repair Plan Nixed". The Plain Dealer. Cleveland. Retrieved December 19, 2014.
  9. ^ 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.
  10. ^ Staff (November 29, 2018). "Officials cut the ribbon on Opportunity Corridor Section 2" (Press release). Ohio Department of Transportation District 12. Retrieved December 1, 2018.
  11. ^ 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.
  12. ^ 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.
  13. ^ Remington, Kaylee (November 13, 2021). "Opportunity Corridor Boulevard officially opens in Cleveland". The Plain Dealer. Retrieved February 16, 2024.
  14. ^ "Project Overview". Ohio Department of Transportation. Retrieved September 28, 2019.
  15. ^ Ross, Catherine (April 19, 2023). "Development Begins Taking Shape along Opportunity Corridor". WEWS-TV. Retrieved April 20, 2023.
  16. ^ Clevelanders for Transportation Equity. "Clevelanders for Transportation Equity". Clevelanders for Transportation Equity. Retrieved December 13, 2013.
  17. ^ 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.
  18. ^ Stocking, Chris. "Opportunity Nowhere: The Beginner's Guide to Being Outraged Over the $330-Million Opportunity Corridor". Cleveland Scene. Retrieved July 16, 2019.
  19. ^ Cleveland Urban Design Collaborative (March 4, 2014). "Advancing Opportunities: Cleveland's Opportunity Corridor". Retrieved September 28, 2019.
  20. ^ U.S. Public Interest Research Group (September 18, 2014). "Report: 21st Century Transportation". Retrieved September 28, 2019.
  21. ^ 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.
  22. ^ "Opportunity Corridor (Section 3)". Retrieved September 5, 2020.

Further reading

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