A $3.5 million redesign of Lorain’s Broadway Corridor will reduce traffic lanes and add protected bike lanes, medians, and pedestrian safety upgrades—all fully funded by the Ohio Department of Transportation and the Northeast Ohio Areawide Coordinating Agency.
The project will not require any financial contribution from the City of Lorain. According to official documents, $2 million will come from ODOT safety funds and $1.48 million from NOACA’s Carbon Reduction Program.
The redesign spans approximately 1.36 miles of Broadway Avenue, from just south of 28th Street to 9th Street. The existing four-lane roadway will be reconfigured to one lane in each direction, with a two-way center turn lane and a two-way protected cycle track along the east side. The plan also calls for landscaped medians, sidewalk improvements, and curb bump-outs to enhance pedestrian visibility and safety.
GPD Group, selected through a competitive bidding process, will oversee the engineering and design phase. The firm is expected to complete its work within seven months, with 2,582 labor hours projected. Engineering costs—estimated just under $500,000—will be paid entirely by ODOT.
The four construction phases include building curb extensions at key intersections, closing and realigning the west side of 28th Street at Broadway, constructing center medians, and installing barriers to separate bicycle and vehicle traffic. New pavement markings, striping, and signage will be added in the final phase.
Sidewalk repairs and replacements will occur as needed, particularly between 13th and 10th streets. Green infrastructure for stormwater control will be installed where feasible, especially in landscaped curb extensions.
Most existing traffic signals will remain, with only minor modifications to support bicycle crossings. Two overhead signs are also planned. Driveway reconstruction and full resurfacing are not part of the project, although limited drainage work will be completed.
The redesign also includes a branding component aimed at unifying the look of signage and wayfinding elements along the corridor. This will align with previous improvements made near West Erie Avenue.
Design work is expected to be completed by October 1, 2025. Construction is scheduled to begin in spring 2026 and finish by the end of that year.
This project follows a similar “road diet” implemented on West Erie Avenue in 2024 as part of the city’s broader effort to reduce traffic speeds and improve access for pedestrians and cyclists.