Two of Macedonia's busiest intersections are in line for a $4.9 million makeover, with new turn lanes, a sidewalk near Nordonia High School, and upgraded traffic signals on the way for Highland Road. Construction is scheduled for 2029, and the project is still in preliminary development as city officials gather public feedback this fall.
The federally funded project, detailed by Cleveland.com, will widen Highland Road at Ohio 8 to add a westbound left-turn lane, easing a chokepoint drivers in the area know well. A second upgrade down the road will add a right-turn lane on westbound Highland Road at South Bedford Road, addressing another frequent backup point for commuters moving through Macedonia.
Safety for students appears to be a central piece of the plan. A new sidewalk will run along the Nordonia High School frontage, specifically intended to improve safety for people walking near the school, according to the same report. The broader project also folds in resurfacing, drainage improvements, replacement of signs and pavement markings, and the installation and upgrading of traffic signals.
Funding Figures Have Shifted Since Spring
The dollar figure attached to this project has moved since it was first reported. Back in May, Cleveland.com described the improvements as carrying a cost of just under $3 million, with Macedonia seeking about $2.25 million in federal funding toward the work. The same spring report noted that a construction timeline had not yet been announced at that time.
By October, the project's price tag had grown to $4.9 million, and officials had attached a 2029 construction date, per Cleveland.com's more recent account. The dossier does not explain what drove the change in cost estimate between the two reports, and no further breakdown of the funding split has been detailed publicly.
The roots of this effort go back further still. Macedonia's December 2023 road program, as described by nordoniahills.news, referenced a $2.2 million federal Congestion Management and Air Quality grant set aside for future Highland Road intersection improvements. That same 2023 program also described plans for a turn lane and sidewalk on South Bedford Road running from Highland Road to Blue Jay Trail.
How Construction Will Affect Daily Traffic
Once work begins, Macedonia says the traffic management plan will keep at least one lane of traffic open in each direction on all roads throughout construction. Access to nearby properties and side streets will be maintained the entire time, the city said, a detail aimed at reassuring residents and business owners along the corridor.
Macedonia has also said that some minor permanent and temporary right-of-way may need to be acquired to accommodate the work. The project remains in preliminary development, and the city says it is not expected to have substantial environmental impacts.
On the regulatory side, the Ohio Department of Transportation is handling the environmental review, consultation and other required actions tied to the project under federal law, according to the Ohio Department of Transportation. ODOT is also expected to oversee the public bidding process and administer construction once the project reaches that stage, per the earlier Cleveland.com report.
How Residents Can Weigh In
Macedonia is currently accepting public comments on the project and its environmental impacts, with a deadline of November 1. Residents can send comments to Bret Keller by email at [email protected] or by phone at 440-439-1999, the city said.
With construction still three years away and several details, including final design and any detour planning, yet to be released, the comment period offers one of the clearer windows for nearby residents and Nordonia High School families to shape how the project ultimately takes shape.
