East End Streetscape Improvements.jpg

The East Market Street improvements, located between Cook Street and Fulton Street, included replacing or repairing all underground utilities (gas, water, storm and selected sanitary sewer); the addition of 100 on-street, parallel parking spaces and 6-foot-wide bicycle lanes; and adding in-road crosswalk warning lights to alert drivers of crosswalk use.

(City of Akron)

AKRON, OH - A $5.5 million project to improve a half-mile streetscape along East Market Street in Akron has been completed.

The streetscape, a main throughway and centerpiece of Akron's East End, is a 1.4 million-square-foot, mixed-use redevelopment at the former Goodyear Tire and Rubber Co. campus.

"We have already completed extensive redevelopment work on the site, these exterior improvements to the center of the campus will certainly be noticeable to tenants and residents," IRG Realty Advisors President Tracy Green said in a release. "Completing this streetscape truly brings the East End's live, work, play environment into focus. It is beneficial to residents, the east end project and the city of Akron."

The East Market Streetscape project was accomplished through a public-private partnership between IRG and the city of Akron. In Akron, no other private entity has participated with the design planning or funding of a public works project. This funding was provided through a state grant of $ 1.8 million, awarded to the city by the Ohio Public Works Commission for the roadway improvements. IRG funded the remainder the project. Akron Mayor Daniel Horrigan actively supported the project's progress.

"The city of Akron had already considered several improvement options for this stretch of roadway," said Akron Mayor Daniel Horrigan. "Partnering with IRG was by far the best option to accomplish our goal of creating a welcoming, walkable and bikeable corridor. Residents will benefit from the project because they can now enjoy this community space. When they attend concerts or events at Goodyear Hall or Goodyear Theater, they can sit and drink a coffee on the benches, travel on well-lit, safe streets and easily access parking. We believe, as does IRG, that these conveniences will contribute to drawing new businesses, restaurants and retailers to the area."

The East Market Street improvements, located between Cook Street and Fulton Street, included replacing or repairing all underground utilities (gas, water, storm and selected sanitary sewer); the addition of 100 on-street, parallel parking spaces as well as 6-foot-wide bicycle lanes; and adding in-road crosswalk warning lights to alert drivers of crosswalk use. IRG also improved the overall aesthetics of the area by adding under lit benches, new trash and recycling containers, custom tree grates, enclosed and lit bus shelters and uniform signage. Crosswalks, intersections and tree accent bands feature stamped, decorative concrete; and internally lit street signs attached to a signal arm are now located at the intersection of East Market Street and Goodyear Boulevard.

When replacing the roadway, an innovative product was used for the asphalt surface called aramid (Kevlar) fibers. This minimizes reflection cracking from the underlying base pavement utility trenches and construction changes. It will also keep the road in a newer condition longer, extending the life of the asphalt and providing a better driving surface.

The project began in April 2016 and was completed this month.