LAKEWOOD, Ohio -- The Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) recently announced a $460,000 guardrail replacement plan that includes work in Lakewood, North Olmsted and Olmsted Falls.

“This is an as-needed project planned for two guardrails on Clifton Boulevard,” Lakewood Public Works Director Roman Ducu said. “This is good for Lakewood, because the existing guardrails are noncompliant and considered non-crash worthy.

“While ODOT is replacing them at their own cost, the city is responsible for continued maintenance once they are installed.”

In addition to Lakewood, ODOT is planning to replace guardrails in Fairview Park (Lorain Road between Chanticleer Drive and West 192nd St.), North Olmsted (Stearns Road on either side of Interstate 480) and Olmsted Falls (Bagley Road between Lewis and Columbia roads).

ODOT District 12 Public Information Officer Brent Kovacs said this is the fourth such guardrail-replacement project that will go out for bid in June, with work to follow.

“ODOT is concerned with Ohio’s transportation system as a whole, no matter who owns the specific roadway,” Kovacs said. “This specifically is geared to help come up to the modern-day standards as given by the Federal Highway Administration. The big change is to replace turned-down anchors or type A anchor assemblies.

“A handful of years ago, ODOT replaced the turned-down anchor assemblies on state routes that are within city limits. The current project continues their removal. Specifically with this project, the locations are mostly on county-owned routes within city limits.”

The entire guardrail replacement project involves 135 locations throughout Lake and Cuyahoga counties.

“This project shows the importance of safety on all roads in Ohio, no matter who owns them,” Kovacs said.

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