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Akron allocates $50 million to transportation projects; work to include resurfacing, bridges and traffic calming
Summary
Service Director Chris Ludlow outlined a roughly $50 million transportation program in the 2025 capital budget, covering resurfacing of about 48 miles, bridge work, sidewalk projects and a speed-calming program; several projects rely on ODOT and other external funding.
Service Director Chris Ludlow presented the transportation portion of Akron’s 2025 capital budget, describing a $50,000,000 program that includes resurfacing, bridge rehabilitation, sidewalks and traffic-calming measures.
"East Exchange Street... will finish this project in probably early summer," Ludlow said when summarizing closeout work, and he described new and carryover projects including Home Avenue (full replacement from Talmadge Avenue), North Main Street Complete Streets (a scaled-back, two-season safety project), and multiple bridge projects with ODOT funding.
Ludlow described a resurfacing plan covering roughly 48 miles including 14 miles of carryover work, and he noted coordination with water work to avoid repaving streets that will soon require lead-service replacements. He said an ODOT-funded project on V Odom Boulevard includes a $2,000,000 ODOT contribution and will be managed by ODOT.
Council members asked about minority business participation and support for local businesses during construction. Ludlow said sidewalk work was bid to encourage smaller firms and cited a minority-owned bidder awarded work last year; he offered to provide MBE/EDGE participation numbers after the meeting.
Ludlow also described an incremental speed table program and radar signage to reduce neighborhood speeding and noted work on bridge inspections and replacements, some funded through state bridge funds and the Ohio Public Works Commission (OPWC). Several projects are design-only in 2025 pending future funding or multi-season construction.
