Defunct Streetcar Bridge Could Become Cleveland’s ‘Low Line’

The long-abandoned streetcar deck of Cleveland’s Detroit-Superior Bridge could see new life as a multi-use connector across the Cuyahoga River, writes Vince Guerrieri in Bloomberg CityLab. In its heyday in 1918, the bridge carried 80,000 Clevelanders by train every day.

The city (in partnership with the county and the state transportation department) received a $7 million USDOT grant to develop a proposal for the project. “The hope is that the dormant space can be not just an important access point across the river, but also a showpiece linear park — a ‘Low Line’ laden with art and attractions, in the spirit of New York City’s High Line.”

The renovation would require new public access and ADA accessibility measures. According to Cuyahoga County Executive Chris Ronayne, “This would make an incredible connector between east and west over the river, from downtown to Ohio City for bicyclists and pedestrians, and it would also make an interesting space to linger in as a park in the sky.”

The eastern end of the bridge stands above one end of the 100-mile Towpath Trail along the Ohio and Erie Canal. “The bridge can also connect to the Red Line Greenway, a walking and biking path built on former transit right-of-way, and from the bridge, you can see the site behind Tower City, where the real estate firm Bedrock has announced ambitious plans for a decades-long redevelopment.”