Lakewood Making Detroit-Sloane Intersection Safer

LAKEWOOD, OH — Drivers and pedestrians near the Lakewood-Rocky River border may have noticed changes to the Detroit-Sloane intersection. City officials are trying to make the area safer for cyclists and walkers heading to the Cleveland Metroparks.

In 2017, the city ran a survey to determine how safe residents felt at the intersection. Motorists were extremely comfortable...but they were the only ones. Both walkers and cyclists said the area made them uncomfortable. To remedy the situation, the city is installing temporary safety measures.

The short-term features include bump-outs to shorten the crossing distances, and an additional crosswalk on the west side of Detroit, the city noted. These installations will remain in-place until permanent fixes can be built.

The city ultimately wants to reduce the width of the intersection to make it safer for pedestrians.

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If the area still looks different to travelers, that's because a public art piece was also built at the site. Called "Reclaimed," the piece was built by local artists Manka + Evans, the city said. The installation looks like giant blades of grass sprouting from the asphalt and concrete.

"More often than not, the first sign of new life in any stressed environment is grass. While simple and humble, this grass signals a transformation. It’s a sign of nature reclaiming what came before," the city said in a profile on the art project.

In the spring, the city plans on installing historic signage, planters and a bike repair station, meaning Detroit-Sloane will continue to evolve for several months.

Photo from Rick Uldricks, Patch