Superior Avenue (US 6) Rehabilitation

The City of Cleveland retained Hatch Mott MacDonald to assist with the rehabilitation of Superior Avenue (US 6), an east-west urban arterial in the City of Cleveland, Ohio. As an arterial facility with an Average Daily Traffic (ADT) in excess of 18,000 vehicles, and a projected 2028 ADT of 22,610 vehicles per day, Superior Avenue serves as a vital link in the region’s transportation network. Superior Avenue provides access to the Midtown Business District in addition to Ohio Technical College, Rockefeller Park, NEON Medical Health Center, two public libraries, three elementary schools, and nearby East High School. There is an RTA red line rapid transit station just east of the project limits of East 30^th Street and East 135^th Street.

Superior Avenue traverses many east side neighborhoods including Goodrich-Kirtland Park, St. Clair-Superior, Hough, Glenville, and Forest Hills. Superior Avenue is also located within the AsiaTown district and Garrett Square. The Quadrangle is just to the west of the project limits. Superior Avenue is being revitalized with the upcoming Asian Town Center, Tyler Village, and the creation of a Live-Work Arts District.

HMM assisted the City of Cleveland with the improvements aimed at extending the useful life of the facility. Superior Avenue, having deteriorated considerably since its original construction, underwent pavement rehabilitation, including new pavement, curbs, sidewalks, and driveway aprons where necessary. Drawing upon HMM’s knowledge of the various cutting-edge reconstruction/rehabilitation methods, the City was able to realize the maximum construction benefit from the available funding ($8.0M) by salvaging material assets where possible and reconstructing elements of the roadway only when necessary.

HMM was also been retained to provide all necessary surveying, inspection, traffic counts, signal warrants, preliminary and final designs, plans, and specifications for the pavement rehabilitation of Superior Avenue in accordance with the Ohio Department of Transportation’s Location and Design Manual.

HMM produced streamlined yet thorough plans with the appropriate level of detail consistent with the specific types of rehabilitation/replacement called for based upon the initial pavement assessment. Symptoms that were addressed included:

• Deteriorated asphalt surface with random cracks, pot holes, rutting, and utility cuts.
• Base failure as determined by pavement cores and results of compression testing
• Noncompliant ADA standards curb ramps
• Broken curb
• Insufficient traffic controllers lacked phasing and timing flexibility at 15 intersections and 11 signals were unwarranted
• Sidewalk was heaved and deteriorated at an estimated 20% of total existing area
• Abandoned driveway aprons existed at vacated parcels
• Pavement markings and traffic signs had deteriorated
• Catch basins had deteriorated
• Ponding and excessive gutter spreads existed throughout the project.
• Cleveland Water Department programmed 10 in water main for cleaning and lining. Existing six in waterline is beyond its useful design life and service connections will be transferred to rehabilitated 10 in water main.
• Abandoned lead water service connections