The City of Akron is planning the
construction of a 4000 foot extension of the Ohio & Erie Canal Towpath Trail from
Martin Luther King Freeway to Lock 2 in downtown Akron. This section of bikeway/towpath
trail will be a unique section of the Ohio and Erie Canal. It will generally follow the
alignment of the canal, however, much of this section of the canal is completely covered
by downtown Akron’s roadways and buildings. The trail will consist of a 10 foot
wide, ADA-accessible concrete or asphalt path with two foot shoulders on each side for a
total width of 14 feet. Street crossings, with the exception of the span over Martin
Luther King Freeway, will consist of brick and concrete at-grade crossings.
The $3.3 million project will be split into two parts. Phase IIA will connect Phase I
of the Cascade Locks Bikeway near Beech Street and cross over Martin Luther King Freeway
to Quaker Street. Phase IIB will pick up at Quaker Street, continue through downtown, and
connect to Lock 2 Park and the existing trail. Phase IIB will be constructed first,
beginning spring 2006. Phase IIA will begin construction in the summer of 2007. Traffic
will be maintained throughout construction.
For further information contact:
Michael J. Teodecki, P.E.
Project Manager
330-375-2336
