Since 1931 the city of Cleveland has been served by US Route 6. The highway has historically not had much alignment movement during the time it has served Cleveland and has been largely tied closely the corridor US Route 20. The corridor in downtown Cleveland remains a surface street alternative along on Superior Avenue. This blog is intended to serve as a history of the US Route 6 corridor through Cleveland as documented in the American Association of State Highways Transportation Officials database.
Part 1; the history of US Route 6 in Cleveland
During 1931 US Route 6 was extended from Erie, Pennsylvania west to Greeley, Colorado via approval of the American Association of State Highway Officials (AASHO) Executive Committee. Despite being extended through Ohio the routing of US Route 6 in the state was not initially clear. The AASHO Secretary asked the state Directory of Highways for clarification on the routing of US Route 6 in Ohio on February 11, 1932.
A reply from the Ohio Director of Highways came in a letter dated February 20, 1932. Said letter noted that decision on the routings of US Route 6, 36 and 62 had been deferred due to the addition of numerous new State Highway corridors. The final routings of the then new US Routes through Ohio were expected to be finalized by March 10th.
The initial routing of US Route 6 in Cleveland appears for the first on the 1932 State Highway System of Ohio map. US Route 6 is shown to be fully concurrent in Cleveland through the city. Both highways are shown routed westbound via Euclid Avenue and Superior Avenue through Public Square. US Routes 6/20 are shown crossing the Cuyahoga River via Detroit Avenue and Bulkey Boulevard towards Edgewater Drive. The highways are shown following Edgewater Drive to one-way couplets along Lake Avenue and Clifton Boulevard.
The 1956 Shell Oil Map of Cleveland details the routing of US Route 6 in the city.
The above map shows from the eastern city limit of Cleveland US Route 6 is as running concurrent with US Route 20 westbound Euclid Avenue. Euclid Avenue can be seen dipping into East Cleveland where it intersects Superior Avenue. Mainline US Routes 6/20 can be seen transitioning onto Superior Avenue towards Public Square in downtown Cleveland. US Route 6 and 20 Alternate is shown continuing on Euclid Avenue to US Route 322 at Chester Avenue. US Routes 6/20 Alternate are shown running concurrent with US Route 322 via one-way couplets on Chester Avenue/Euclid Avenue to/from Public Square. US Routes 6/20 emerge with US Route 42 (and Ohio State Route 3) west of Public Square towards the Cuyahoga River via Detroit Avenue. US Route 42 is shown splitting south onto 25th Avenue whereas US Routes 6/20 follow it north onto Cleveland Memorial Shoreway. From the end of Cleveland Memorial Shoreway the routing of US Routes 6/20 is shown splitting onto one-way couplets Lake Avenue/Clifton Avenue.
On April 25, 1968, the Ohio Director of Highways submitted an application to AASHO asking for US Route 20 be rerouted onto what was US Routes 6/20 Alternate in downtown Cleveland. This measure was approved by the AASHO Executive Committee on June 18, 1968. The measure meant that US Route 6 remained as a standalone routing on Superior Avenue west of Euclid Avenue. US Route 20 westbound was realigned onto Euclid Avenue (picking up US Route 322 at Ford Drive), Chester Avenue and 13th Street back to US Route 6/Superior Avenue. Eastbound US Route 20 departed Public Square multiplexed with US Route 322 along Euclid Avenue.
On October 14, 1968, the Ohio Director of Highways submitted an application to AASHO asking for the swapping of locations for US Routes 6/20 and US Routes 6/20 Alternate in western Cleveland and Lakewood. The original routing for westbound US Routes 6/20 on Lake Street was to be relinquished with the state converting Clifton Boulevard for two-way traffic. The request asked for mainline US Routes 6/20 be relocated onto Clifton Boulevard towards the Rocky River Bridge. Detroit Avenue west of 25th Street was requested to be assigned as US Routes 6/20 Alternate. The AASHO Executive Committee approved all facets of the request on December 1, 1968.
Part 2; a drive on US Route 6 in downtown Cleveland
Interstate 90 Exit 173C accesses US Route 6 on Superior Avenue in downtown Cleveland. US Route 6 is not signed on the gantry approaching Exit 173C, but a reassurance shield can be found on the ramp.
US Route 6 west of Interstate 90 on Superior Avenue offers a view of the downtown Cleveland skyline.
Westbound US Route 6 picks up US Routes 20 and 322 westbound at the intersection of Superior Avenue and 13th Street.
US Route 6, 20 and 322 all multiplex westbound on Superior Avenue to Public Square. US Route 322 reaches its western terminus upon reaching Public Square. Public Square was part of the Connecticut Land Company plans for the city which were overseen by Moses Cleveland during the 1790s.
In 2016 Public Square was reconfigured to be more pedestrian friendly. Westbound US Routes 6/20 used to continue straight through via Superior Avenue. Traffic is now required to circle Public Square via Roadway which is poorly signed for route continuity.
West of Public Square US Routes 6/20 pick up the beginning of US Route 42 and Ohio State Route 3. All four highways follow Superior Avenue west to a transition onto Detroit Avenue approaching the Cuyahoga River.
All four highways cross the Cuyahoga River via the Detroit-Superior Bridge. Said span is a 3,112 foot long through arch bridge which was completed in 1918. The structure was added to the National Register of Historic Places in January 1974.
The intersection of Detroit Avenue and 25th Avenue west of the Cuyahoga River serves as a major junction. Mainline US Routes 6/20 transition to the Cleveland Memorial Shoreway (Ohio State Route 2) via north 25th Street. US Routes 6/20 Alternate continue west on Detroit Avenue. US Route 42 and Ohio State Route 3 turn south on 25th Street.
Cleveland Memorial Shoreway was completed west of the Main Avenue Viaduct and the Cuyahoga River to Edgewater Park in 1940. US Routes 6/20 and Ohio State Route 2 transition from the end of the Shoreway onto Clifton Boulevard at the western end of the park.
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