Cleveland Mom Fumes Over Unfinished Steve Harvey Way Hole After Son Falls In

A Cleveland mother is leaning hard on city officials and a contractor to finish roadwork along Steve Harvey Way after her son fell into an open hole she says was left behind by an unfinished job. Brandy Blackmon told reporters that crews started work on East 112th Street last summer, then never came back, leaving a gap near the sidewalk that got deeper over time. Her son was pulled out and was not hurt, but neighbors worry the opening could turn into a sinkhole and put other children in danger. “Fix it,” Blackmon said, in a message aimed at the contractor she blames for the mess.

Unfinished Work Left a Growing Hazard

News 5 Cleveland reported that Cleveland Water told the station it had already completed its portion of the project and that “the contractor would need to complete the rest.” By May 29, the station found that boards had been laid across the hole, but the excavation still was not permanently repaired, leaving a lingering hazard along the sidewalk. Neighbors also told reporters the opening kept getting deeper even after the boards went down.

Records Point to a Similarly Named Contractor

The city identified the contractor on the block as Clear Path Solutions. Public records list “Carter’s Clear Path Solutions LLC” on the Cuyahoga County licensed sewer builder list, suggesting a locally registered firm with a similar name may be tied to the job. Cuyahoga County shows the company’s listing and contact information on that sewer builder roster.

Street Honoring Hometown Star Left Torn Up

East 112th Street, ceremonially renamed Steve Harvey Way in 2015, is a point of pride in the neighborhood, so unfinished repairs are especially hard to miss. Clevescene covered the renaming and the street’s symbolic importance to locals. Residents say construction sites left open after public works projects undercut efforts to revitalize the area and make streets safer for kids.

City Steps In While Contractor Stays Quiet

After Blackmon spoke with reporters in early May, Councilman Kevin Conwell connected News 5 Cleveland with the Division of Streets, and city crews paved the stretch within about two weeks for safety reasons, the station reported. The division told the outlet it had notified the contractor and set a Memorial Day deadline to complete the repairs, but multiple emails and calls to Clear Path Solutions were not returned. Blackmon says she still wants whoever is responsible, whether that is the city or the contractor, to fully finish the work before another child gets hurt.