The Cleveland-Cuyahoga County Port Authority (CCCPA) awarded a $60-million construction contract to stabilize the hillside known as Irishtown Bend in Cleveland’s Ohio City neighborhood. The project addresses an immediate need to shore up the failing slope from slipping into the Cuyahoga River that could potentially disrupt commercial shipping traffic that supports over 22,000 maritime jobs and the region’s economy. Once completed, the project will provide the platform for a new greenspace park connecting residents to the riverfront and a riverfront trail that links the Cuyahoga Valley National Park to Lake Erie. Wade Trim is serving as CCCPA’s Owners Representative and providing full construction management and inspection services throughout the 30-month construction period.
Major project components include the installation of 2,400 LF of new riverfront bulkhead with green bulkhead features; excavation and removal of 200,000 cubic yards of hillside fill materials; demolition of site utilities and installation of 2,600 LF of new underground electrical service and 3,400 LF of new storm sewers; replacement of 200 LF of a 60-inch combined interceptor already compromised by the existing slope failure; regrading of the site with over 80,000 cubic yards of clean materials; installation of two water quality ponds and new aggregate trails; and realignment and reconstruction of Franklin Avenue between West 25th Street and Columbus Avenue. Project coordination challenges include maintaining navigation channel travel, adherence to construction staging and sequencing designed to minimize slope instabilities and maintain continuous interceptor sewer service, and communications with numerous community, Cleveland, and local agency stakeholders.
Wade Trim was contracted to fully support CCCPA as an extension of their staff by providing general construction management services, including contract administration, full project controls, RFI and submittal management, Engineer of Record and stakeholder coordination, full-time inspection services, and day-to-day project management. During preconstruction, Wade Trim provided technical review of specifications, drawings, and cost estimates; contractor outreach; and bid support services.
Work to stabilize Irishtown Bend kicked off with a groundbreaking ceremony at the Cleveland Rowing Foundation on August 25, 2023.
