Release Date: October 15,2020

Akron Celebrates Completion of Main Street Corridor Project with a Virtual Ribbon Cutting

Akron, Ohio, October 15, 2020 — Today, Akron Mayor Daniel Horrigan officially cut the ribbon to mark the completion of Phase I of the Main Street Corridor project in downtown Akron. He was joined by Congressman Tim Ryan, Summit County Executive Ilene Shapiro, City Council President Margo Sommerville and other federal, state and local stakeholders.

In July 2018, the City embarked on Phase I of the Main St. reconstruction—a full improvement project from Cedar Street to Mill Street. Phase 1 was a $30+ million effort to reconstruct all infrastructure from building face to building face along the South Main corridor width, between Cedar and Mill Streets, including: new pavement with a lane dedicated to parking/buses/delivery vehicles, new sidewalks, a permanent bicycle track, upgraded underground utilities, upgraded traffic signal equipment, smart LED lighting, a roundabout at Main and Mill Streets, storm water management improvements, and a complete rebuild of the State Street bridge. Also included were all the amenities needed to make this an attractive corridor including landscaping and public benches.

The street is now open to two-way traffic throughout the entire project and final pavement and striping work on Main St. was completed at the end of September. Final lighting and signage/signalization installations are wrapping up this month. Residents and visitors alike are encouraged to come discover the new and improved corridor.

“The Main Street Corridor Project has completely transformed Main Street on a scale not seen in several generations,” Mayor Horrigan said. “The end result of this massive undertaking is a more connected, dynamic, beautiful and modern Main Street which has been purposefully designed to welcome and serve Akron’s businesses, citizens and visitors. This transformative process is the result of the work of a wide range of stakeholders—including elected officials at the federal, state level, county and city level, civic leaders, and of course our local businesses, and the community at large. The new Main Street is for the benefit of every single Akronite, and I could not be more proud to cut the ribbon today on our newly reconstructed, vibrant, downtown corridor."

The project was funded through a variety of sources including: a $5 million Federal Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) grant, $8.5 million from the Ohio Department of Transportation for the State St. bridge, $3.5 million from the Ohio Public Works Commission (OPWC), $4.12 million from First Energy for utility upgrades, $237,000 from AT&T, and $300,000 from the County of Summit.

Key partners in the project include the Downtown Akron Partnership, Kenmore Construction, GPD Group, Prime AE Group, Akron Energy Systems, the Ohio Department of Transportation, the Knight Foundation, and the County of Summit. Special thanks go to all our downtown business owners who have worked hand-in-hand with the City throughout this once in a lifetime redevelopment.

With the reopening of Main St. comes various downtown programming and activities. Adding to the vibrancy of Main Street is the new Designated Outdoor Refreshment Area (DORA) along the Lock3/Akron Civic Theatre block. Local customers looking for a unique, outdoor refreshment experience can visit a participating downtown business and purchase a “to-go” beverage to be enjoyed while strolling downtown within the DORA. For more information, please visit www.downtownakron.com/explore/downtown-akron-dora. Lock 3 is also offering a variety of fall programming options for residents and visitors alike. The fun includes Downtown Doggie Tuesdays where you can bring your pup with you to enjoy Dog Boot Camp and more, a Wednesday night concert series in Lock 3, family fun events in collaboration with the Akron Children's museum every Saturday, several fitness programs throughout the week, and much more. For all of the Lock 3 events and programming options please visit Lock3Live.com or follow them on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/Lock3Live/.

To celebrate the reopening of Main St., the Akronite app is offering an extra 10% back in Blimps when you use the app to shop at businesses on Main Street. The app is free and easy to download on Apple or Android devices. After downloading, simply link your payment card, and start earning Blimps! Additionally, Downtown Akron Partnership has launched Picture Yourself on Main. This new initiative is your invitation to be a part of the new downtown Akron Main Street. Updates on programming and fun opportunities can be found at www.downtownakron.com/explore/picture-yourself-on-main.

Construction on Main Street Corridor Project, Phase 2 is beginning this month. In 2020, all construction on Phase 2 will be limited to sidewalks, and the roadway will remain open throughout this early portion of the project. With the help of $13.5 million in federal, state, and private funding, Main Street Phase 2 will continue full-depth improvements from Mill Street to State Route 59.