Rothrock Road in Fairlawn Now Closed to Through Traffic

, Rothrock Road in Fairlawn is now closed to through traffic – and seemingly no city residents are voicing complaints to public officials.

On Monday, city workers erected a five- by eight-foot plastic barricade on the double yellow center line in Rothrock, just west of Sawgrass Drive. A sign on the barricade states the road is closed to through traffic.

The road block is one of two set up by Fairlawn after officials from Rosemont Commons in Fairlawn to a Rothrock site about one mile away in Copley Township.

at its intersection with Rothrock Road and a short distance eastward near the entrance drive for the Enclave at Rosemont Ridge condo development.

Despite “road closed ahead” warning signs set up this week on both ends of Rothrock within city limits, some motorists appear to still be using the popular residential shortcut between Fairlawn and Copley.

During a 15-minute span Thursday afternoon, eight vehicles traveled westbound on Rothrock toward Copley. Three slowed somewhat as they neared the barricade, then continued past it. Two cars turned onto Sawgrass. And three motorists did U-turns in Rothrock at the barricade, then headed back toward Cleveland-Massillon Road.

Chief Kenneth Walsh said his department has not received any complaints this week about the Rothrock barricade.

“We received a grand total of two calls, but they were both questions about when the signs were posted and what enforcement actions would be taken,” Walsh said. “We told them officers will address enforceable violations. They’re patrolling like they always did before and looking for any problems that may develop.”

Ernie Staten, deputy service director, said the only calls received by his department regarding the barricade were from neighborhood residents seeking information.

“Everyone wants to know how to get around the barricade if they live in that area,” he said.

Mayor William Roth said it’s not neighborhood residents the city is trying to discourage from using the road, which is why the city chose a sign stating “closed to through traffic.”

Roth said the purpose of the barricades is to protect the residential integrity of the neighborhood by preventing a traffic increase from both shoppers and delivery trucks related to the new Walmart Supercenter and stores being built in Copley.

Rothrock winds through a neighborhood which includes the upscale housing development Rosemont Ridge, the Enclave condo complex and Copley Place retirement living center.

The mayor has heard only one complaint this week about the Rothrock barricade, and it was from a Copley resident. “Residents I run into in Fairlawn say they’re in favor of it,” Roth said.

Two ordinances involving the permanent closure of a 500-foot stretch of Rothrock within city limits and a change on Rosemont from permanent-closure status to a gated entry system are working their way through the government process. Both will be on City Council’s agenda Monday.

“When the current legislation passes, Rothrock will be closed permanently at Sawgrass with cement Jersey walls, like on Rosemont,” Roth explained. “A Click2Enter gate system – which is $30,000 to $50,000 – will be set up on Rosemont at Rothrock to allow police, fire and school buses in.”

Neither move would be made until spring, though, Roth said.