Miles SmithThe City of Cleveland has landed a $69 million federal grant that will help fund its efforts to build a pedestrian land bridge connecting downtown to Lake Erie to through its central business district.
The North Coast Connector Land Bridge and Downtown Boulevard Project has now has received a total of $130 million from the Department of Transportation after being awarded a $59 million grant in October.
The North Coast Connector is a proposed land bridge that would create a pedestrian- and bike-friendly path to connect downtown to the waterfront, allowing people to walk and bike to attractions like the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and the Cleveland Browns stadium.
Highways, railroads and a 65-foot bluff currently separate the city from the lakefront, making it difficult for cyclists and pedestrians to access.
The grants were awarded through the DOT’s Reconnecting Communities Pilot Grant Program, which was established and funded by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to reconnect communities divided by highways and rail lines.
The city has secured a total of $150 million in state and federal commitments and plans to begin construction in 2027.
U.S. Rep. Shontel Brown (D-Ohio, 11th District) announced the award with Cleveland Mayor Justin Bibb.
“The North Coast Connector and the mayor’s broader Shore-to-Core-to-Shore initiative are transformational initiatives that will help us capitalize on our Lakefront, strengthen our economy, and position Cleveland to thrive for decades to come,” Brown said.
The new infrastructure is widely considered to be the first phase of a plan to develop unused land into public spaces and private development near Huntington Bank Field, the city-owned facility that serves as the Browns’ home field.
The North Coast Connector project is estimated to cost a total of $284 million. The city has said it expects the remainder of the funding to come from a federal interest-free loan.
The project is expected to begin as early as 2026.
Image by David Lennon from Pixabay
