The reconstruction and widening of Sprague Road will begin, in addition to the city roadway projects this year. City Engineer Justin Haselton announced that the project, which will take place along Sprague Road, from West 130 Street to York Road, is expected to begin in July. The Sprague Road project is a two-phase project. Phase one includes a .77 mile span from Webster Road to West 130 Street, in the cities of Strongsville and Middleburg Heights. Phase two involves a 1.21-mile section between York Road and West 130 Street, which includes the cities of North Royalton and Parma. The work is being done by Cuyahoga County.
According to North Royalton officials, the section that spans North Royalton and Parma, “includes the grading, drainage and paving along with the widening of 1.21 miles of Sprague Road. The project will include the installation of curbing, under drain, closed drainage system, concrete walk, ADA curb ramps, culvert replacement, water main replacement, sanitary pump station replacement, sanitary sewer and other associated improvements.” The widening comes in the form of a turning lane. All of the ditches will be eliminated and storm sewers installed in their place. Sidewalks will be installed on both sides in Parma and North Royalton.
North Royalton received funding through the 2019 Issue One Program, scoring enough for this project. It was one of eleven projects that will receive part of the $29.8 million available for the 2019 program. The Issue One program issues a combination of loans and grants. The county administered program is reviewed by the District One Public Works Integrating Committee, consisting of Cuyahoga Countywide officials. Criteria for funding is based on the needs of the city; the age and condition of the project applied for; health and safety concerns; the enhancement to economic development; the readiness to proceed as well as other projects being funded. Those that can apply include not only cities, but also counties, villages, townships, regional sewer, sanitary and water systems, covering a wide range of capital improvement projects.
An amount of $6.3 million of Issue One funding was granted, as the project scored ten of the eleven projects that were chosen for the 2019 program. The 2018 program included the $4 million granting of phase one of the Sprague Road project, which ran between Webster Road and West 130 Street. The Phase two section includes a two-mile widening of Sprague Road. The road is being widened to a three-lane cross section, similar to Royalton Road. All of the ditches will be eliminated and storm sewers installed in their place. Sidewalks will be installed on both sides in Parma and North Royalton.
Ironically, the last time the city received Issue One funding was for a Sprague Road repaving project that ran from State Road to Broadview Road. That was from the Issue One 2012 funding year, when North Royalton received a 20-year, zero percent loan to fund $464,600, 30% of the $1.5 million Sprague Road Resurfacing Project. The estimated cost for the phase one and two of the Sprague Road reconstruction project, which ultimately runs from Webster Road in Strongsville, to York Road in North Royalton, is about $14.5 million. According to Christopher A. George, P.E., Chief Section Engineer – Highway Design of the Cuyahoga County Administrative Headquarters, Department of Public Works, the total cost of phase one was $7,347,886.50, with an increase of $292,847.72. North Royalton is expected to pay about $1.5 million for the entire project, with about $1,478,000 for phase two and about $154,000 for phase one.
One-way traffic is expected to be maintained throughout the project. The bids for the contractor are currently being accepted, with the award expected mid-June. Phase two of the Sprague Road reconstruction project is expected to be complete in the summer of 2023.
By GLORIA PLEVA KACIK
Contributing Writer