BOSTON/RICHFIELD — Another opportunity to walk or use pedal power — and leave the car at home — is coming as gas prices continue to soar. A bike-and-hike lane will be added to a 2.35-mile stretch of Everett Road, thanks to the collaborative efforts of local, county and federal officials.

Summit County Engineer Greg Bachman announced May 12 at the Everett Road covered bridge that a partnership with U.S. Rep. Betty Sutton (D-District 13), of Copley, and Summit County Executive Russell Pry has succeeded in gathering $900,000 to fund the road improvement project.
“The purpose of this project is to improve access to the Cuyahoga Valley National Park [(CVNP)], improve the safety along Everett Road, increase multi-modal usage and access, and decrease vehicular congestion in the park,” Bachman said. “By working together, we will build a world-class park.”

The improvements include the resurfacing of Everett Road between Riverview Road and the western boundary of the park, with the exception of the Everett Connector, and replacing the aggregate shoulders with asphalt shoulders for safer bicycle and pedestrian travel.

Everett Road leads into the CVNP, which is bisected by the Towpath Trail in that area.

Bachman added the new shoulders would decrease the likelihood of washouts along the road and would increase access to the park.

The Summit County Engineer’s Office is developing a safety study and design and construction plans for the project. Bachman stated the project is awaiting approval from the Ohio Department of Transportation, and if approved soon, road work could start in early September and be completed by the end of October.

Traffic would be maintained along Everett Road at all times during construction with the use of flaggers and law enforcement, according to Bachman.

“The best projects, however, are no good without funding,” said Bachman, who acknowledged a contribution of $500,000 in federal funds through the efforts of Sutton.

Sutton said she was pleased to carry on the legacy of building parks started by former U.S. Rep. John Seiberling (D-District 14) and U.S. Rep. Ralph Regula (R-District 16).

Seiberling represented the Greater Akron area in Congress between 1971 and 1987 and is credited with creating the Cuyahoga Valley National Recreation Area in 1974. The area became a national park in 2000.

Regula helped push for funding for National Heritage Areas, including the Ohio & Erie Canalway, which provides seed money that is matched by other entities to service these historical areas. The act will appropriate $15 million to the Ohio & Erie Canalway over the course of 15 years.

“It is a mission of love to continue to improve our parks,” Sutton said.

Summit County Executive Russell Pry also partnered to assist in the effort by granting $125,000 to the project.

“This [project] will help economic development in Summit County by improving quality-of-life issues,” Pry said.