A project to build an I-71 interchange at Boston Road – discussed off and on for the last four decades – has been revived following meetings between Strongsville, State Rep. Tom Patton and other Ohio officials.
Mayor Tom Perciak announced during his annual State of the City speech March 15 that the state is poised to clear the way for the interchange to be built.
“We are nearly ready to take the first step,” Perciak said.
The state legislature has already committed $100,000 toward initial engineering work for the new on- and off-ramps, which would help alleviate traffic congestion at the existing I-71 interchange on Royalton Road.
Strongsville officials and Patton met with the Ohio Department of Transportation and Northeast Ohio Areawide Coordinating Agency to move the plan forward.
“This is the early stages – here we go again,” Perciak said. “But I’m hoping we can finally get this done.”
The mayor made the announcement to a packed house at the Ehrnfelt Rec Center during the Strongsville Chamber of Commerce’s monthly business luncheon.
He also told the crowd about the Town Center project, expanding on plans to create a new park and walkways in the center of town, including a playground that will be accessible to children with disabilities, an interactive fountain/splash pad, a pavilion (possibly with walls and fireplace), new family restrooms and a staging area for events like the Farmers’ Market or food truck rallies.
The city has created a committee, led by local businessman Mike Catan, that will seek donations from area businesses to help get construction under way this year.
You can learn more about the plans and can donate online by visiting
Strongsville.org/town center.
The mayor also focused this year on the team of solid professionals he has built to oversee the various city departments, who together bring 321 years of experience to their jobs.
Perciak noted that Strongsville has the second-highest assessed value in Cuyahoga County (behind Cleveland), is one of only four communities to hold a Aaa bond rating, saw the second-largest increase in new residents in the 2020 census, and is home to the Strongsville Business and Tech Park, which was ranked the No. 1 business park in northeast Ohio by ‘Crain’s Cleveland Business.’
There’s a reason for that, the mayor said – the experienced, committed department heads who help him run Strongsville.
“This is what separates us from the rest,” he said.