COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Mayor Michael Coleman announced his goal for a historic piece of Columbus Wednesday during his State of the City address.
As part of the Interstate 71 and Interstate 670 improvements, caps are planned for both Long and Spring streets.
Coleman said that decades ago, I-71 cut the east side off from the rest of the city and that the wound must be healed.
"This is the largest project in ODOT history. This will create thousands of jobs and reverse the mistakes of the past. The east side and downtown Columbus reconnected, which is what we want to see," Coleman said.
The city's near east side is a diverse community, made up of several distinct neighborhoods.
If a cap was built over I-71 at Long and Spring streets, would it reconnect the east side with downtown?
Columbus State Community College sits on the west side of I-71 but is an integral part of the east side.
"There is a lot of people walking back and forth, so it would help with all the pedestrians trying to get over that overpass," said Jeremy Costello, an area resident.
Coleman said the cap will provide green space and an open path between downtown and the east side. But area resident Ray Jones said he has greater hopes.
"I hope that the city will also look at providing and creating jobs and not just talk about it, but have tangible measurable accomplishments to that," Jones said.
For additional information, stay with nbc4i.com an71 d NBC 4 and refresh nbc4i.com -- Where Accuracy Matters.
To submit a story idea or news tip, e-mail us at stories@nbc4i.com.
NBC 4 POLITICS: Headlines, Interactives & Video
MORE: NBC 4 Local News | Local Crime News
NBC 4 SPORTS: Sports News, Video
Email
Facebook
Google
Twitter
Favorites
More
Advertisement