CUY-69-8.57 Hilliard Road Bridge Improvement (PID 109594)
CUY-69-8.57 Hilliard Road Bridge Improvement (PID 109594)
Virtual Public Meeting Open House #3
June 25, 2026 – July 27, 2026
Comment on the updated bridge type and other project updates at your leisure.
Public Involvement Background
Cuyahoga County Department of Public Works (CCDPW) evaluated four alternatives to improve the existing Hilliard Road Bridge 08.57 over the Rocky River (SFN 1830147). Due to its poor physical condition and increasingly rapid deterioration, the steering committee recommended that removing the existing bridge and replacing it with a new bridge in the same location is the safest and most cost-effective alternative that satisfies the purpose of the project.
The first virtual public open house was held from February 1 - March 1, 2021, and presented a variety of alternatives and bridge structure types for the replacement of Hilliard Road Bridge 08.57. After the comment period closed on March 1, the project team reviewed all the comments received and selected a replacement bridge-type as well as updates to the surrounding bridge approaches and roadways.
A second virtual public open house was held from December 15, 2021 – January 15, 2022. The second public meeting presented the design concept that was being advanced. At that time, the proposed design was a new steel arch bridge reusing the existing piers. In June 2022, it was determined that reusing the existing piers was not feasible due to continued rapid deterioration. At that time, the design concept was modified to a single steel arch bridge.
See the sidebar of the project webpage under "Documents" to download and view the summary of public comments received during open houses #1 and #2.
Due to lack of available funding, the arch-type structure is not feasible. This third public “open house” is to present the updated proposed constant-depth steel girder structure type.
Historic Bridge Coordination
The existing Hilliard Road bridge is a concrete arch structure that is eligible for listing on the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP). Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966 requires Federal agencies to consider the effects of their actions on historic properties. The Section 106 process requires the Federal agency official to consult with other parties with an interest in the effects on historic properties. Section 106 defines other parties as Consulting Parties. The Section 106 process, used by ODOT for projects like this one, seeks to incorporate historic preservation values into project planning through consultation with the agency official and Consulting Parties.
Because of the structure's historic significance, CCDPW met with Consulting Parties for the replacement of the bridge to develop a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) for mitigation strategies for removal of the bridge. The single arch steel girder concept was presented to the Consulting Parties. The MOA, which was signed in April 2023, contained a stipulation that an arch-type bridge would replace the existing historic bridge. This was shared and supported by interested parties.
An additional meeting with consulting parties will be scheduled for August of 2026 to update the prior MOA based upon the change in selected structure type. CCDPW proposes to maintain the remaining commitments made in the prior MOA. See the sidebar of the project webpage under “Documents” to download and view the 2023 MOA.
Purpose of Virtual Public Open House #3
The purpose of this third virtual public open house is to present the updated bridge structure type for public feedback.
How can I participate/provide comments?
Please review the project information below by advancing through the blue tabs. The "Become a Consulting Party" section provides information on Section 106 and a form located in the website sidebar (under “documents”) if you'd like to apply to be a consulting party moving forward.
Questions and comments about the project can also be submitted by the following methods.
- Email: aadkins@cuyahogacounty.gov
- Call: 216-348-3855
- Mail a comment form (located for download in the sidebar of this webpage) or letter to:
Public Works: Aaron Adkins
2079 East Ninth Street, 5th Floor
Cleveland, Ohio 44115
Comments may be submitted until Monday, July 27, 2026.
Thank you! We look forward to hearing from you.
History, Purpose & Need
History
Hilliard Road Bridge 08.57 (SFN 1830147) was originally constructed in 1925 and carries four lanes of traffic over the Rocky River, Valley Parkway, and Cleveland Metroparks all-purpose trail between the Cities of Lakewood and Rocky River in Cuyahoga County, Ohio (See Figure 1). 
The project is within the Cleveland Metroparks Rocky River Reservation. The bridge is a multiple span open-spandrel reinforced concrete arch structure that is included on ODOT’s Historic Bridge Inventory and is eligible for listing on the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP).
A bridge inspection was conducted in December of 2013. Based on the results of this inspection, a Feasibility Study was prepared in 2015 that recommended rehabilitation of the historic bridge.
A follow-up inspection in 2018 revealed deterioration proceeding at an increasingly rapid pace, resulting in a reconsideration of alternatives and the previously recommended “rehabilitation” of the bridge. This new condition required the bridge to be further examined to confirm that it could handle heavy trucks and emergency vehicle loads. The updated analysis determined that the bridge in its current condition requires restrictions on specific heavy trucks and certain heavy emergency vehicles. The required action to post a weight restriction on the bridge has prioritized this improvement project.
After reevaluating the alternatives, it was recommended that removing the existing bridge and replacing it with a new bridge in the same location is the safest and most cost-effective alternative that satisfies the purpose of the project.
Purpose & Need
The bridge is in poor physical condition, with concrete debris falling from the structure. The purpose and need of this project is to provide a structurally sound and safe bridge crossing to accommodate unrestricted vehicular and pedestrian traffic on the bridge, as well as park visitors under the bridge.
Existing Bridge Components
(Click image to enlarge)
Schedule