Cleveland Unveils North Coast Connector Project Schedule

The city reveals a construction timeline for a new lakefront boulevard and a pedestrian land bridge.

Updated on Oct. 30, 2026 in Construction

Isometric editorial illustration of a concrete land bridge connecting a downtown urban grid to a waterfront area. — The City of Cleveland has finalized the design-build schedule for the $285 million North Coast Connector, aiming to link the downtown business district with Lake Erie. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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The City of Cleveland has released its design-build timetable for the North Coast Connector, a massive $285 million lakefront infrastructure project. The initiative aims to connect the downtown business district to Lake Erie via a new 35-mph boulevard.

Why it matters

The project is designed to improve safety for pedestrians and bicyclists by slowing traffic while facilitating future housing and park developments along the waterfront. It marks a significant shift in how the city integrates its urban core with the lakefront.

The first phase of the lakefront project carries an estimated cost of $285 million, funded through a combination of local, state, and federal sources. Additionally, the Haslam Sports Group provided a $100 million settlement, with $30 million earmarked for the future demolition of Huntington Bank Field.

The players

City of Cleveland

The local municipal government responsible for overseeing public infrastructure, urban planning, and development agreements.

Haslam Sports Group

The organization that operates professional sports teams and reached a settlement agreement regarding the stadium lease and demolition.

DiGeronimo Companies

A developer appointed as the master lead for the lakefront project to manage design and construction coordination.

The details

The development plan involves relocating essential sewer and power lines to accommodate the new boulevard, which will replace existing bridge and interchange structures at West 3rd and East 9th streets. DiGeronimo Companies, selected as the master developer in December 2025, is tasked with executing this progressive design-build contract.

September 2027: Initial land bridge construction begins.
June 2028: Land bridge construction reaches completion.
July 2029: Demolition of the current stadium is scheduled to begin.
2030: Potential expiration of the stadium lease extension.
Q1 2032: Scheduled completion of the first phase of the boulevard.

Market Landscape

The North Coast Connector project represents a major pivot in Cleveland's urban development, moving away from isolated interchange structures toward integrated, pedestrian-friendly transit. This realignment positions the city to attract new commercial and residential growth in a competitive regional real estate market.

Residents and daily commuters can expect significant long-term changes to transit routes near West 3rd and East 9th streets as interchange structures are replaced. These developments aim to create a more accessible waterfront, which may alter traffic patterns and increase pedestrian connectivity in downtown.

The takeaway

The transformation of the Cleveland waterfront signals a long-term commitment to repurposing legacy stadium space for public utility and residential connectivity. Citizens should prepare for a multi-year construction period as the city transitions from a football-centric landscape to a modernized urban boulevard system.

What happens next

Construction of the land bridge is set to commence in September 2027, followed by the planned demolition of the stadium in July 2029 and the completion of the first phase of the boulevard in the first quarter of 2032.