City of Akron Provides Update on E. Exchange St. Project

Mayor Malik has provided an update to the comprehensive roadway improvements project on East Exchange Street near the University of Akron campus.  While construction was paused for the winter months, it began again in full earlier in March. All roadway construction is expected to be complete by early July 2025. Contractors will finish up aesthetic improvements such as street trees after roadway completion.

Beginning on Monday, March 24, access to Brown S. from East Exchange Street will be closed for approximately 4 weeks while the contractor completes work in the intersection. Travel will be detoured using E. Exchange St., Grant Street, and E. Thornton Street. Access to all residents and businesses on Brown will be maintained from the south. Additionally, beginning on Monday, contractors will pour and finish sidewalks between Sumner and Allyn Streets. There will still be pedestrian access to the businesses in this area and there is free parking available on the side streets (Allyn and Sumner) as well as a parking garage behind the businesses. This is expected to take 2 weeks and be finalized by mid-April. Then contractors will move up the block to complete sidewalks from Allyn to Kling St. which should take approximately 2 more weeks and be complete by the end of April.

Beginning at the end of April, access to Brown St. will be restored and access to Spicer St. from Exchange Street will be closed for approximately 4 weeks to complete improvements in the intersection. That detour will be announced at a later date.

This project includes full improvements of East Exchange Street between Arc Drive and Fountain Street including new pavement, curbs, sidewalks, bike lanes, street lighting, traffic signals, water main replacement, sewer reconstruction and landscaping. 

“We’re excited to see the end of this extensive improvement project in sight,” said Akron Mayor Shammas Malik. “I know this construction has been difficult for some of our local businesses and University of Akron students. In the end, we will have a fully updated corridor along one of our main roadways and a critical part of the University of Akron campus that we can be proud of. I encourage everyone to continue supporting the businesses along the Exchange St. corridor as we work hard to finalize this project.”