Cleveland Land Bridge/West Shoreway
Concept Alternatives

Big Creek Connects and the Green Ribbon Coalition (www.greenribbonlakefront.org) developed the Cleveland Land Bridge / West Shoreway Concept Alternatives study to assist the City of Cleveland, the Greater Cleveland Partnership, and the Lakefront Task Force with its downtown lakefront planning process, by updating the initial Green Ribbon Coalition land bridge proposal and suggesting additional concept alternatives to be considered for further study.

These include several Shoreway realignment concepts that extend westward, across the east and west banks of the Flats into the Ohio City and Detroit Shoreway neighborhoods. This increase in scope is recommended due to the need for the eventual replacement of the 83-year old Main Avenue Bridge, that has a life expectancy estimated to be between 10 to 30 years.

The concepts presented include the conversion of an abandoned Main Avenue Bridge and its approaches into a pedestrian friendly, elevated greenway. Another is to improve the quality of life of Lakeview Terrace and other Ohio City residents impacted by Whiskey Island truck traffic, by diverting the bulk of the traffic away from the residences and onto a realigned Shoreway across Whiskey Island.

These concepts and recommendations were developed to help improve the health and quality of life of residents; provide better access to and between lakefront destinations; and spur economic development within the downtown lakefront, the east and west banks of the Flats, and the near-west lakefront neighborhoods.

Big Creek Connects and the Green Ribbon Coalition are looking forward to participating in the City’s lakefront planning process and encouraging its participants to develop a comprehensive plan with these recommendations in mind. We are also looking forward to questions and comments about this study from all public, private, and community stakeholders.

Contact: Bob Gardin, Project Director at bgardin@bigcreekconnects.org or 216.661.7706.


 
 
 
 

 

Cover of the study

DOWNLOAD STUDY:
Cleveland Land Bridge/West Shoreway Concept Alternatives 2022 (Rev. Aug. 25, 2022)

Letter to Cleveland Mayor Justin M. Bibb

Cleveland Mall / North Coast Harbor Land Bridge Proposal. Green Ribbon Coalition, rev. 2019.

IN THE NEWS:

Editorial Board (2022, August 27), New designs for possible land bridge linking downtown to lakefront: Editorial Board Roundtable. Cleveland.com and The Plain Dealer

Litt, Steven (2022, August 19), New ideas for Cleveland lakefront "land bridge" proposed by Green Ribbon Coalition, Big Creek Connects. Cleveland.com

Litt, Steven (2022, May 29), A look back at 9 previous downtown Cleveland lakefront proposals that didn’t move ahead. Cleveland.com

Litt, Steven (2022, May 29), Cleveland, Greater Cleveland Partnership, launch biggest civic effort in decades to make downtown-lakefront connection a reality. Cleveland.com

Litt, Steven (2022, February 6), Fate of Cleveland’s downtown lakefront vision could hinge on whether traffic flow trumps economic development - Commentary. Cleveland.com

Litt, Steven (2022, January 26), NOACA wants Cleveland to examine wider "land bridge" concepts for downtown lakefront connection, plus hold a meeting to engage public for the first time. Cleveland.com

Johnston, Christopher (2019, August 21), Bridging the gap: How to connect downtown and the lakefront. FreshWater

Litt, Steven (2017, September 19), Green Ribbon Coalition touts "land bridge" for downtown lakefront instead of Rosales design. Cleveland.com