Cleveland Ohio Funguide Weblog

Constant Construction In Northeast Ohio Hurting Businesses Everywhere

One great thing about Northeast Ohio is that if travel isn’t hindered by snow and ice, it’s hindered by constant construction.

It doesn’t matter if you’re driving in the city or in the suburbs - there is always a “project” going on. In North Olmsted they’ve been working on the 480 Exit Bridge for the entire summer, pretty much redoing the entire thing, including the exit ramps. Luckily I know my way around, so I’ve been able to maneuver around this mess.. and I’m sure that it hasn’t hampered sales for the Great Northern Mall or any of the surrounding retail stores, but this isn’t the case for all businesses in the Northern corridor of Ohio.

The Cleveland Athletic Club, a business located on Euclid Avenue is facing bankruptcy after being in business for 99 years. The reason? Prior debt and Construction. They’ve watched a formerly solid catering business and membership decline since the Euclid Corridor Transportation Project - a complete reconstruction of Euclid Avenue for a new transportation system began. This project has closed roads, making it difficult (or undesirable) for customers to reach their establishment. When they tried to raise annual membership fees they encountered a steep decline in people willing to pay.

Former President of the Club, Michael Snelling had this to say:

“We’ve been hurt by the Euclid Corridor construction project. What bride would like to walk through all the dust and construction to get to our club for their wedding reception?”

If you travel a little further East, you’ll find a nightmare on Mayfield Road and 271. Darren and I had to run over to this side of town and were mortified when it took about 45 minutes to get to a retail store near Green Road.

The funny thing is, there was no one even working! Just orange barrels and heavy equipment
that was collecting dust and emissions as impatient drivers were reduced to one lane in each direction. Many businesses in the area are feeling the pinch and cutting corners as shoppers
do what they can to avoid the area at all costs - Even big box retailer Wal-Mart is cutting hours
of employees as they see fewer people choosing to shop there. Worse news for this area is that the construction is expected to last for another 3 years and there is no agency that can compensate business for the losses in their bottom line. I’m sure that many of them won’t even be able to last through another 6 months of it.

I guess that my question is is why there is such a need to “repair” roads but never really fix them? Why doesn’t anyone plan ahead - I mean if you’re ripping up the roads why not spend a few extra million dollars to put heating elements underneath to melt the ice and snow so you don’t have to rip them up with salt and snowplows in the winter?

What are your thoughts on the constant state of road construction in our area? What construction area has slowed you down the most?