Part of Cleveland

Those wishing to visit The Winery at Wolf Creek, Loyal Oak Golf Course or other businesses in that area of Cleveland-Massillon Road may need to plan an alternate route to get to their destination starting next week.

A key stretch of the road between Summit and Wadsworth roads will be closed June 26 for an anticipated 30 days to widen and resurface the road.

According to information from the Summit County Engineer's Office, access to all homes and businesses will be maintained. Motorists can access Wolf Creek Winery and the Loyal Oak Golf Course from the south and can access Stimson Road from the north.

The work will be performed in two phases, one involving a 600-foot stretch of road north of Brenner Road and south of Stimson Road. This short stretch is between two walls of rock; pedestrians currently must walk in the street along this narrow section of Cleveland-Massillon Road. Once work is completed, there will be a 6-foot-wide curb area for pedestrians.

Heidi Swindell, the director of administration and government affairs for the Summit County Engineer's Office, said the contractor will use a hydraulic breaker to excavate the rock cut area on Cleveland-Massillon.

"This is an attachment to an excavator working off its own hydraulic system," Swindell said. "So basically a jackhammer attached to an excavator. They start at the top of the rock formation and chisel it down to about 6 inches below the top of the curb in order to pave the area for pedestrians. They will chisel back about 6 feet on either side of the road."

Swindell said there will be an issue with falling stones during construction, so the road will need to be closed while the work takes place.

"When the cut is back far enough, they use less and less pressure with the hammer until they ensure they’ve knocked loose any unstable stones," she said. "Having the rock cut set back farther is definitely safer for motorists, since any falling rocks have a better chance of falling outside of the vehicle lanes."

The machines that will be used for this project are the same as the ones being used at the Interstate 77/U.S. Route 224 interchange, Swindell added.

"When they are done there, they will moved to Cleveland-Massillon (Road)," she said.

Phase I also will include pavement repairs, shoulder restoration/resurfacing and pavement markings on 1.77 miles of Cleveland-Massillon Road from the Norton line to just north of Minor Road. The construction estimate for this section is $1.1 million.

Phase II work will include pavement repairs, shoulder restoration/resurfacing and pavement markings on 1.8 miles Cleveland-Massillon Road from north of Minor Road to just south of East Ridgewood Road. The construction estimate for this section is $1.17 million.

The detour route, which includes Summit Road and state Route 261, will be posted. The expected timetable for completion also depends on workable weather conditions.

The work on Cleveland-Massillon Road follows on the heels of an emergency replacement of the bridge spanning Wolf Creek, which was completed in September 2019 after being closed for five months.

The new, 48-foot bridge cost nearly $390,000 and is used by 4,500 motorists daily.

Part of Cleveland-Massillon Road in Fairlawn also will receive a face-lift.

Cleveland-Massillon from Ridgewood Road north to Kumho Drive, then from Springside Drive North to about 200 feet south of Ghent Road will undergo resurfacing work.

Fairlawn City Council recently approved a $998,000 with Karvo Cos. in Stow.

Ernie Staten, the director of public service and the utility and street commissioner for Fairlawn, said the resurfacing should start in about two weeks and should be finished by the end of October.

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Reporter April Helms can be reached at [email protected]