Changes Coming to Akron's East Cuyahoga Falls Avenue This Summer

New center-left-turn lane, crosswalks, and bike lane aim to improve traffic flow and pedestrian safety

Feb. 4, 2026 at 6:39am

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

The City of Akron is planning a construction project on East Cuyahoga Falls Avenue this summer to address traffic flow issues and improve safety for drivers and pedestrians. The main changes include adding a center-left-turn lane, new marked crosswalks, curb ramps, and a bike lane between North Main Street and Front Street.

Why it matters

This project is a response to accident data showing 113 crashes in the last 5 years, many of them serious or fatal rear-end collisions and sideswipes. The changes aim to better define where cars should travel and provide safer options for pedestrians crossing the road.

The details

The wide turn lanes between North Main Street and Patterson Avenue have led to confusion, with drivers passing on both the left and right. The narrower section between Patterson and Front Streets also lacks marked crosswalks. The new center-left-turn lane, crosswalks, and bike lane are intended to address these problems and improve traffic flow and pedestrian safety.

  • The construction project is scheduled to start sometime this summer and last for a few months.
  • A public comment period is now open for residents to provide feedback on the planned changes.

The players

Christine Jonke

The division manager of the engineering bureau for the City of Akron, overseeing the project.

City of Akron

The local government responsible for planning and implementing the changes to East Cuyahoga Falls Avenue.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“You've got folks passing on both the left and right because there's a little bit of room where they can squeak through.”

— Christine Jonke, Division Manager, Engineering Bureau

“We have that two-way left turn lane to allow folks to get out of the flow of the traffic and make their left-hand turns in a safe manner without being nervous about being rear-ended or trying to hurry up and get out of people's way.”

— Christine Jonke, Division Manager, Engineering Bureau

What’s next

The city does not expect any project-related closures during construction, and does not anticipate a change in travel times for drivers once the changes are complete.

The takeaway

This infrastructure project in Akron aims to improve traffic flow and pedestrian safety on a busy stretch of East Cuyahoga Falls Avenue, addressing issues like confusing lane markings and lack of crosswalks that have contributed to a high number of accidents in recent years.