Fairlawn to Close Rothrock Road to Non-Residents Nov. 14

Fairlawn city officials received no complaints Friday during a public meeting held to announce details on how they’ll go about closing a section of Rothrock Road to through traffic starting Nov. 14.

An informational meeting called by Mayor William Roth Jr. to discuss the controversial attracted about 25 attendees – many of them public officials – and lasted under 15 minutes.

first west of Sawgrass Drive to commercial traffic in light of ’s announced move from Rosemont Commons in Fairlawn to a Rothrock site about one mile away in Copley Township.

At the time, Roth said the road would be closed to “protect the residential integrity” of both Copley and Fairlawn from increased traffic from shoppers and delivery trucks related to the new Walmart Supercenter and stores being constructed.

Ernie Staten, Fairlawn street maintenance supervisor, said Friday the city intends to erect message boards Nov. 1 to notify residents of the pending road closure. The message boards will be posted at Rothrock and Cleveland-Massillon Road, another on Rothrock along the curve near Copley Place and one by the driving range near Rosemont Country Club.

Staten said the plan on Nov. 14 is to erect a five- by eight-foot crash-worthy plastic barricade on the double yellow center line in Rothrock. A sign on the barricade will state the road is closed to through traffic.

Staten said the barricade placement will allow school buses and emergency vehicles easy access to the neighborhood. Eastbound motorists will have 16 feet of clearance from the road’s edge to the barricade, while westbound motorists will have 12 ½ feet of clearance.

“The largest emergency vehicle we have is eight feet (wide),” Staten said. “On Market Street the largest lane we have is 11 feet wide.”

Road-closed-ahead warning signs will be posted at several locations, including the intersection of Cleveland-Massillon Road and Elgin Drive, on Brook Wall Drive between Brookmont and Cleveland-Massillon roads and near Flight Memorial Parkway.

When asked about traffic enforcement plans, Police Chief Kenneth Walsh said he is hopeful motorists will respect the road closure. The situation will be monitored and an action plan will be developed if it appears through traffic is occurring.

Roth said the current road-closure plan was developed by the firm ms consultants inc. in conjunction with the city engineer’s office.

He said the city intends to move forward with the plan, despite the motion for a temporary restraining order filed by Copley Township officials on Wednesday that was reported by the Akron Beacon Journal.

“Obviously there’s pending litigation, so we’ll see what the courts will decide. But right now our intention is to close (the road) on Nov. 14,” Roth said.