Cuyahoga County committee advances NOACA-funded road projects, recommends $22.46 million Rockside bridge award

The Cuyahoga County Council Public Works Procurement and Contracting Committee on Thursday advanced multiple resurfacing and rehabilitation projects added to NOACA’s 2026–2029 Transportation Improvement Program and recommended a $22,456,737.47 construction award for two Rockside Road bridges.

Nicole English of the county’s Department of Public Works told the committee the projects — including Harvard Road in Cuyahoga Heights, Nottingham Deal Road in Cleveland and Euclid, Rockside Road in Independence and Seven Hills, and Warrensville Center Road — were placed on NOACA’s updated TIP and are slated for design and construction between 2026 and 2029. She said the county typically aims for an 80/10/10 federal/county/city split but noted several projects are currently funded at lower federal shares and will require the county and local jurisdictions to split the nonfederal portion until additional grants are secured.

Why it matters: The projects cover miles of arterial and heavy-truck routes that county staff said carry thousands of vehicles per day and affect regional traffic flow. Committee members pressed staff on how local partners will make their shares and whether the county will seek Issue 1 or other grant funds to reduce local costs.

English described the funding for the Harvard Road resurfacing as “only about 48% funded by federal; 26% county, 26% Cuyahoga Heights,” with construction anticipated in 2029. Nottingham Deal Road, she said, carries about 14,000 vehicles per day and is estimated at $3.7 million with 65% federal funding, leaving 17% county and two local shares of 9% each for Cleveland and Euclid. Warrensville Center Road was presented as a two-season, 2.2-mile project estimated at $5.7 million with 70% federal funding and local shares apportioned by mileage.

On Rockside Road in Independence and Seven Hills, English said the county will pursue spot concrete repairs rather than a full rebuild for a roughly $5 million repair estimate, noting the road previously underwent major reconstruction and that a total rebuild could run substantially higher. She said the project received full NOACA funding at 80% federal in that case.

Bridge award and bid review: The committee also considered Resolution 20250224, an award of up to $22,456,737.47 for two Rockside Road bridges (one replacement and one rehabilitation). English said the two structures carry high traffic volumes and currently rate a 5 on a 0–9 condition scale; if they fall to a 4 authorities typically must restrict lanes. The engineer’s estimate was about $21.7 million, and English reported the low bidder (Brueland) came in roughly 3.5% over that estimate with the next bidder about $200,000 higher. “The bids were all very close,” English said, adding that closeness gave staff confidence in the estimate and that ODOT must also review federal-funded bids.

Funding for the bridge award was described as 64% federal, 20% from Issue 1 and 16% county. During discussion a committee member flagged a caption in the resolution that listed a smaller county allocation figure; English said she believed the caption number was wrong and that the county share should calculate to roughly $3.6 million (about 15.88% of the award) and that staff would correct the caption before council action.

Contract compliance and local participation: English said ODOT sets DBE goals on federal projects (commonly 8%), and that the county’s documentation showed the awarded bidder met the DBE goal. Committee members asked whether the county tracks local small-business participation (SBE) on federal jobs; English said the state handles DBE review on federally funded construction and that the county could check subcontractor lists to identify SBEs.

Committee action and next steps: The committee moved each resolution forward — most by voice vote — sending the resurfacing and rehabilitation items to the full council on second reading (regular order) and recommending the bridge construction award for second-reading suspension so preconstruction procurement (steel orders, materials) can proceed. Resolution 20250226, an appropriation item for the Lake Clifton Connector, was withdrawn after Public Works said it reached settlements with the three property owners; staff said the project is now fully funded following a recent state multimodal award and is expected to go out to bid this fall with construction to start next spring.

The committee did not record roll-call tallies for the voice votes; in each case the chair announced “ayes have it.” The items will appear on the full Cuyahoga County Council agenda for formal votes and any caption corrections.

Votes at a glance: Resolution 20250220 (Harvard Road) — referred favorably to full council for second reading (no suspension). Resolution 20250221 (Nottingham Deal Road) — referred to full council for second reading. Resolution 20250222 (Rockside Road rehabilitation) — referred to full council for second reading. Resolution 20250223 (Warrensville Center Road) — referred to full council for second reading. Resolution 20250224 (Rockside Road bridges) — favorably recommended with a request for second-reading suspension to allow early procurement. Resolution 20250226 (Lake Clifton Connector appropriation) — withdrawn by the administration after settlements were reached.

What’s next: County staff will finalize bid documentation and correct the award caption before the full-council meeting. The full council is expected to consider the items on second reading and the award; Public Works said it will pursue Issue 1 and other grants to reduce local shares as designs and applications proceed.