West Newport Drive Improvement Project Planned for Mill Creek Park (PID: 107043)

Mill Creek MetroParks is soliciting public comment for an upcoming improvement project. West Newport Drive, a roadway located in the Historic District of Mill Creek Park, stretches from Sheban Drive to Canfield Road (Route 62). The proposed rehabilitation project will occur on the southern section of this roadway from Sheban Drive to Hampton Drive and involves the resurfacing of 1.53 miles of existing asphalt concrete. Additional improvements include the restoration of aggregate roadway shoulders and the reapplication of pavement markings. 

The transportation improvement is scheduled for construction in the summer of 2018. The estimated construction cost is approximately $289,190 with $126,933 being funded through ODOT’s Park District Road Improvement Fund.  During project construction, West Newport Drive will remain open to pedestrian and bicycle traffic at all times, but will be closed to all vehicular traffic from Sheban Drive to Hampton Drive. A detour route will be provided for vehicular traffic. Construction, lane restriction, roadway closure and detour information will be posted along West Newport Drive and on the Mill Creek MetroParks website (www.millcreekmetroparks.org) prior to the start of construction. During the West Newport Drive closure, parking lots for the Newport Wetlands and the West Newport Drive Picnic Area will be closed to vehicular traffic, however, these facilities will remain open and will be accessible to pedestrians and bicyclists at all times during project construction.  

The environmental review, consultation, and other actions required by applicable Federal environmental laws for this project are being, or have been, carried-out by ODOT pursuant to 23 U.S.C. 327 and a Memorandum of Understanding dated December 11, 2015, and executed by FHWA and ODOT. The proposed project will not impact any cultural resources, suspect hazardous waste sites or ecological resources. The project will not result in substantial impacts to the environment either individually or cumulatively. In compliance with Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, as amended (codified as 36 CFR 800), Mill Creek MetroParks requests information regarding the presence of any known cultural resources in the vicinity of the project. Cultural resources include prehistoric and historic archaeological sites, historic bridges, historic buildings, sites and districts.

To ensure the proposed project is viable and successful, Mill Creek Metro Parks is seeking comments from the public about the social, environmental, and economic impacts of this proposed project. Environmental impacts include those involving archeological, architectural and ecological resources, regulated materials and the general location of the project. Any comments you may have regarding the environmental and/or the proposed project may be submitted by February 9, 2018.

 All public comments, questions and/or concerns about the project are welcomed, and should be directed to:

 Mill Creek MetroParks
Re: Andrew Steingass, Park Planner
P.O. Box 596
Canfield, OH 44406-0596
Phone: 330.702.3000
Fax: 330.702.3010
Steingass@Millcreekmetroparks.org