Transforming the Lakefront through Phased Investment
The North Coast Connector will bridge the divide that has separated Cleveland's city center from Lake Erie for generations—making the lakefront more accessible for residents and visitors while unlocking substantial economic development potential along one of the nation's most promising urban waterfronts.
The North Coast Connector is a proposed land bridge connecting the downtown to the lakefront. It will span over the railroad tracks and the Shoreway (State Route 2) to restore access and repair more than a century-old divide, opening up new land for community gatherings and future economic development. State Route 2 will be converted from a limited access freeway to a safer lower-speed local boulevard.
The North Coast Connector will advance through multiple phases. Phase 1 refers to the first construction package, which includes the Shoreway conversion from approximately West 9th Street to east of East 9th Street, and associated infrastructure improvements, including the land bridge. Phase 2 will run from east of East 9th Street to the Innerbelt Curve and will advance once the city obtains construction funding.
The first construction package includes the Shoreway conversion to a boulevard between West 9th Street and east of East 9th Street, construction of a Land Bridge, W. 3rd Street Bridge improvements, dedicated Port access, demolition work, retaining walls, sidewalks, multi-use paths, and related infrastructure needed before later project elements can move forward.
The City is currently coordinating National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) approval, identifying major utility relocations, identifying necessary right-of-way parcels, acquiring key permits, and preparing a financial plan, which includes Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) funding.
The North Coast Connector is poised to create significant opportunities for businesses located in Cleveland, Northeast Ohio, and across the United States.
Proposed Procurement Approach
The City anticipates delivering the Project under a Progressive Design-Build (PDB) procurement model
(subject to change at the City's discretion).
The North Coast Connector Industry Forum
The City of Cleveland will be holding an industry forum event on October 28, 2026 at 9:00am ET at the Huntington Convention Center of Cleveland, followed by one-on-one meetings (by request) with interested design build teams with experience delivering comparable projects in the role of prime.
The purpose of this event is to provide interested industry participants with an opportunity to:
- learn more about the Project and the proposed schedule;
- provide an opportunity for interested industry participants and small businesses to connect; and
- provide an opportunity for interested prime contractors to meet with the City to provide feedback on the proposed delivery approach.
Request a Meeting with the City of Cleveland
Interested prime contractors must complete and submit the form requesting a meeting by October 9, 2026 at 5:00pm ET. The City of Cleveland will notify respondents of the allocated meeting time if your request for a meeting has been accepted. Please note the City will only be accepting requests from qualified primes that have relevant design-build experience on comparable projects.
While attending the industry forum and participating in a one-on-one meeting are not prerequisites for participating in the procurement process, interested prime firms are strongly encouraged to participate.
The City will use the OpenGov portal: https://procurement.opengov.com/portal/clevelandoh for procurement-related activities, such as release of the procurement documents and for procurement submissions. More information will be provided as it becomes available.
City of Cleveland Project Manager
The contact person for this procurement is:
Paul Hornyak
Project Manager
601 Lakeside Ave E.
Cleveland Ohio, 44114
216-420-8732
phornyak@clevelandohio.gov
Name and Address of Organization:
(If responding as a joint venture, please provide company information for all joint venture partners.)
Request received.
Thank you. The City of Cleveland will notify you of your allocated meeting time if your request is accepted.
Have a question about the
North Coast Connector?
Whether you're looking for more information, have feedback to share, or want to learn how the project may affect your community, the North Coast Connector team is available to help. Your input plays an important role in the project's success.
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