Miller Road/I-77 Interchange Final Plans

The City of Brecksville retained Euthenics to complete an Interchange Modification Study (IMS) and final design for ODOT PID 104983, completing the south half of the partial-diamond I-77/Miller Road interchange. The study and design limits extended along I-77 between SR 21 and SR 82 and along Miller Road between Katherine Boulevard and SR 21. The project's purpose is to improve access to southbound I-77, reduce travel time, road-user costs, and support planned development and regional access in the surrounding region. This was a highly ranked Major New TRAC-funded project. The interchange concept added a northbound exit ramp from I-77 to Miller Road and a southbound entrance ramp from Miller Road to I-77, with an auxiliary lane between the new southbound entrance and the I-80 (Ohio Turnpike) exit. Miller Road improvements included a second westbound right-turn lane to the northbound entrance, widening of the northbound entrance to two lanes before the merge with I-77, revised lane assignments at the Miller Road intersections with the interchange ramps, Southpointe Parkway, and SR 21. The Miller Road bridge over I-77 was widened to provide left-turn lanes in both directions. I-77 was widened to three lanes in each direction between SR 21 and I-80 as part of the operational concept. Euthenics obtained traffic counts including individual turning movements at the studied intersections and coordinated with the Northeast Ohio Areawide Coordinating Agency (NOACA), Akron Metropolitan Area Transportation Study (AMATS), and ODOT Central Office to obtain certified traffic. Euthenics analyzed existing, no-build, and build conditions, including freeway segments, weaves, ramps, intersections, turning movements, queue storage, and signalization needs. After IMS approval and TRAC funding was secured, the team completed survey and basemapping; prepared full depth roadway reconstruction and widening plans for 2,035’ of Miller Road, relocation plans for the southbound exit ramp to Miller Road, ramp widening plans for the northbound entrance ramp to I-77, and plans for the addition of a southbound entrance ramp to I-77 and a northbound exit ramp to Miller Road. The proposed improvements were constructed over two construction seasons with Phase 1A and 1B completed in season one and Phase 2 in season two. Two-way traffic was maintained on Miller Road at all times. A short-term nighttime closure on I-77 was required to set the new beams for widening the bridge. Traffic signal plans including interconnect were prepared for 3 intersections. Signing and Pavement marking plans were developed to upgrade pavement markings and replace all signs within the project limits. New major signs consisting of ground mounted, cantilever, and truss supports were detailed in accordance with the latest version of the Ohio Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices. Storm sewer calculations were performed to size 4,418’ of storm sewer ranging in size from 12” to 48” in diameter. Six filter strips and one manufactured system were designed to satisfy the Ohio EPA Post construction BMP requirements. Roadway widening resulted in the need to relocate the existing waterline along Miller Road. Waterwork plans were developed to install 2,145’ of 12” waterline including boring a 200’ section under I-77. A trunk sanitary sewer on an adjacent property conflicted with the new southbound entrance ramp. Plans were prepared to relocate 690’ of 18” sanitary sewer with an average depth exceeding 25’. Photometric analysis was performed and lighting plans prepared for the tower lighting installed within the I-77 median and interchange infield. Right of way plans and legals descriptions were prepared for 22 parcels from 8 owners and included temporary and utility easements and right of way and limited access warranty takes. Bridge work included the widening of the Miller Road bridge over I-77 from 3 to 5 lanes as part of a larger interchange project. The existing structure consisted of a four-span, approximately 291-foot-long continuous steel-beam bridge with a reinforced-concrete deck supported on semi-integral abutments and cap-and-column piers. To accommodate widening of Miller Road from three lanes to five lanes, the bridge was widened approximately 27 feet along the north side with all-new construction. The widening included new semi-integral abutments, cap-and-column piers, continuous steel beams, a composite reinforced-concrete bridge deck, sidewalk, parapet, and vandal protection fence. The new substructure elements are supported on steel piles founded on bedrock. The bridge improvements also included rehabilitation and aesthetic enhancements to integrate the existing and widened portions of the structure. The portion of the existing bridge deck that remained in place received a 1½-inch microsilica concrete overlay and sealing as a final rehabilitation treatment. The existing south parapet was removed to the sidewalk and reconstructed with architectural treatment matching the new north parapet. Decorative 4-foot-high aluminum “Brecksville” lettering was designed and mounted to the new vandal protection fencing.