AKRON, Ohio - The end of the Innerbelt is closed. So is the intersection of MLK Jr. Boulevard, North Howard and North Main streets for a sewer separation projection that will take six months. So how do you get to the restaurants, hotel and galleries of the Northside Arts District?

It's a question that concerns business owners there.

"The only way we can still be here when it's over is for people to come," said Jill Bacon Madden, owner of Jilly's Music Room, which has live music several nights a week and a gluten-free menu. "They just have to drive another block."

City engineering project manager Mike Wytrzyszczewski said because of EPA-mandated deadlines for the sewer separation projrct, and ramp closures on I-77 and I-76, the confluence of projects affecting Northside was out of the city's control. So they city has been planning since 2015.

The good news: There are plenty of detours to Northside, and they're marked with signs. Also, the Northside Courtyard by Marriott Hotel, which also houses the kitschy Speakeasy lounge, has opened its private parking lot to customers for the duration of the closure.

The closure will route drivers, trying to go through downtown, northward off Perkins Street to Summit Street and then west on Furnace Street, which runs right thought the Northside District to Howard Street.

To add to the confusion, Route 59 is known as three names: Perkins, MLK and the Innerbelt. And North Main changes names to Howard Street.

Tips for getting to the Northside Arts District

From Route 8 going north: Take the Perkins exit, turn left on Perkins Street, turn right on Summit Street and left on Furnace Street

From Route 8 going south: Take the Perkins exit, turn right on Perkins Street, turn right on Summit Street and left on Furnace Street

From W. Market Street: Bear left onto North Street near McDonald's, turn right on Howard Street and left on Ridge or Furnace streets. Or take Market through downtown. Turn left on Summit Street, cross Perkins Street and turn left on Furnace Street

From E. Market Street: Turn right onto Summit Street, cross Perkins Street, turn left on Furnace Street

From Tallmadge Avenue: Take Howard Street going south toward downtown, turn left on Ridge or Furnace streets

Dave Sharp, director of operations at dba, Dante Boccuzzi Akron and Speakeasy, says the closure may have positive effects.

"It might expose more people to this place," Sharp said. However, there is some worry out-of-town travelers will have a hard time finding the Courtyard hotel, the only open hotel in the downtown area.

During the convergence of the North Main/Howard Street/Innerbelt closure and Old Main Sewer Separation project, drivers can access the Northside Arts District in several ways. Most traffic coming from downtown will take the detour from Perkins Street to Summit Street to Furnace Street. Howard Street will remain open to Beech Street.

Sharp said most of his customers come from Cleveland, the west and the north suburbs, such as Hudson and Cuyahoga Falls, so they can still take Route 8 to Perkins Street and take the detour down Summit to Furnace Street.

But he's also driven the route from various directions in town and made suggestions for signage placement. He's asked for a sign on West Market Street at North Street, which runs east to Howard Street.

The Northside District logo will be added to the orange detour signs all around the district to help drivers navigate the closure.

But Claudia Zeber Martell and Michael Martell of Zeber-Martell Clay Studio & Art Gallery are concerned the detour will cause drivers to drive faster down Furnace Street.

The couple, who have owned the gallery there for nearly 30 years, have kept the business alive through many construction events over the years and feel confident their clientele will still come. But ensuring pedestrians are safe is a concern.

The city plans to have police out during the first weeks of the closure. "If we need them, we'll keep them there," Wytrzyszczewski said.

To stay up to date on Akron's road closures, visit DriveAkron. Visit the Northside Arts District Facebook page for more information.

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