CLEVELAND — The jersey barriers are gone! In a ceremonial display after a news conference announcing the next phase in development for Cleveland’s Public Square, city officials blew an air horn and waved a flag to signal crews to lift and remove the “temporary” concrete barriers that have scarred downtown’s central plaza for years.
“Once complete, the renovations will provide increased safety, enhanced mobility, and improved aesthetics for pedestrians, cyclists, and transit so that all residents and visitors can better access and utilize this key area of Downtown,” states a news release from the city.
What’s happening to Public Square?
Replacing the barriers will be Superior Crossing, a project that will install bollards along both sides of Superior Avenue, an elevated crosswalk in the center of the street, and retractable safety barriers at the east and west ends of the road in Public Square.
These new details were announced by Mayor Justin Bibb, Cuyahoga County Executive Chris Royanye, and India Birdsong-Terry, General Manager and CEO of the Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority, at a news conference in Public Square Monday morning.
Watch the full news conference and barrier removal ceremony below:
When is this project happening?
The barrier removal ceremony kicked off the first “soft” phase of the two-phase project. After the barriers are removed, the adjacent statues will be removed later this week in preparation for the NCAA Woman’s Final Four, the total solar eclipse, and the Guardians home opener in April, according to a news release from Public Square representatives.
Once these events are over, the “full” construction phase will commence with utility work, lighting installation, and installation and testing of the bollards and retractable safety barriers, known as “Raptors.” Construction is expected to be completed by June or early July 2024.
Similar “Raptors” are currently in use at the Federal Reserve Bank, and the city’s team learned that this system is compatible with Cleveland’s weather and the “unique characteristics of Public Square,” the news release states.
How will this impact travel through Public Square?
Superior Avenue will be closed to traffic starting Monday. The RTA is working on transit schedules and will provide changes to the community.
Parts of Public Square will remain open during the construction, including Rebol and the fountain and splashpad. Specific construction zones will be closed, and those looking to host an event in Public Square can fill out a form on the city’s website to find out if it is feasible.
As for going forward, it's not clear if RTA buses will still pass through Public Square on Superior Avenue when work is all said and done.
"Right now, we are working to make sure we can open the square in the most safe and efficient manner," RTA CEO India Birdsong Terry said.
Birdsong Terry said that Public Square still serves as the #1 transfer location when it comes to buses and trains, amounting to about 5,000 people per day.
"We want to make public square more walkable, more pedestrian friendly and long term that might consider closing more streets," Mayor Justin Bibb said. "Everything is on the table."
Why are they making these changes?
While Public Square was completed to the specification and approval of the Department of Homeland Security in 2017, “world events changed and caused safety issues for event attendees and public space,” the release states. The city was advised to make further changes “to provide a safer environment and minimize opportunities for terrorism and other threats, such as inebriated drivers,” officials stated.
The recommendation was to taper Superior Avenue and install a mechanism to stop vehicles from approaching at high speeds from various angles. The jersey barriers were added as a temporary measure while the original project team began meeting in 2017 to develop a permanent strategy to address modifications to Public Square.
How is this being funded?
The project is being funded with $1.5 million of city dollars promised by Bibb during his campaign. Cuyahoga County contributed $1,025,000, and RTA contributed $500,000 to cover transit-related costs. Property owners and businesses near Public Square, including the Key Bank Foundation, Sherwin Williams Foundation, JACK Entertainment, GUND Foundation, Bedrock, the Cleveland Cavaliers, Rocket Mortgage and the K&D Group, provided the balance of funds needed.
RELATED: Generous grant helps Public Square invest into more programming, beautifying eye-sores
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