North Linden leaders hope a road realignment project will improve traffic safety and draw in new development and businesses to a busy neighborhood street.
Columbus City Council moved forward with $1.2 million in funding and awarded a contract to Complete General Construction Company to help realign the intersection of Cleveland and Myrtle avenues. The project would also install new curbs, resurface and realign the curving intersection and do other infrastructure work.
Carol Perkins, the chair of the North Linden Area Commission, told WOSU the intersection is dangerous, especially with cars going at high speeds through the road as it curves.
"It is a traffic nightmare. The cars that speed up and down Cleveland Avenue because the street is so wide, so it's almost like riding I-71 north and south or the Autobahn," Perkins said.
Perkins said the project is welcome and she is excited. She said it can help calm traffic and prevent pedestrian and traffic crashes. She pointed out the popular restaurant Ena's Caribbean Kitchen is located at the intersection, as well as a new senior living apartment building called Mulby Place.
"The cars are coming so fast that they don't realize that, you know, the street is not straight. So construction is long overdue and so welcome," Perkins said.
Perkins said she hopes this project means more change is coming to Linden. She said North and South Linden working on the One Linden plan can help bring positive change to the area.
She said more housing, businesses and retail could come to Linden in this area.
"Just like, the Short North had some challenges back in the day, and now it's flourishing. I could see the same thing happening for Cleveland Avenue as well. Redevelopment (and) a more welcoming community," Perkins said.
Perkins said it should be the job of the neighborhood to help preserve the character of Linden if that much change really does happen.
The Columbus Department of Public Service said the project partners will meet sometime later this month to set a project schedule. The bulk of the construction is expected to wrap up by the end of the year, barring weather delays.
