Ed Hauser drove community opposition to the current ODOT bridge planning disaster,
just as he drove opposition to port planning on Whiskey Island, and demolition of the Breuer -
seen here in November, 2005, videotaping Paul Alsenas describing a better vision HE lost

As Steven Litt points outs out in the Plain Dealer today, as he slams all the designs and design processes leading to the $3.5 billion boondoggle that is the Cleveland ODOT I-90 bridge replacement disaster...

Several years ago, ODOT rejected a brilliant urban design proposal by Cuyahoga County Planning Director Paul Alsenas, which called for building a single new east- and westbound span further south of the existing right-of-way.

The Alsenas concept would have opened up new land for development around Gateway and shortened the total length of the bridge, producing savings in construction and long-term maintenance.

Engineers from the firm of Burgess & Niple, then leading the project for ODOT, said the Alsenas proposal was impossible. Sadly, no one in government or community development sought a second opinion.

Cities need ways to break the design monopoly held by big government agencies such as ODOT. Failure to find the best ideas for bridges and other big pieces of infrastructure means living with mediocrity for decades. Thanks to ODOT, it appears Cleveland is headed in that direction on its new bridge.

I can confirm Litt's account, as Litt and I were at the Excellence Roundtable held in November, 2005, with Ed Hauser, whereby we had Alsenas discuss this vision for the future of this ODOT bridge replacement, now a disgrace. 

At the time, I concluded:

Current ODOT design is presented, with them having added a section of cable stay to be able to say they have provided a “signature” design – “throwing Cleveland a bone” - very poor concept and execution

When asked if ODOT can be stopped, the group belief was if the city/region really comes behind this opportunity - “takes ownership” - and Senator Voinovich gets on board, we definitely can turn this around

Question comes up of what is a signature bridge?

We have many great bridges, like the Lorain/Carnegie Bridge. So our next bridge – which will be here for the next 100 years – should be the latest technology – new icon for future of city/region

Must focus on process. ODOT is railroading process – at one time ODOT was considering the Southern plan and then suddenly this Summer said it was unacceptable – only reason they have given is it would impact the Greek Church in Tremont, which it will not.

Question comes to where ODOT stands on all this now. Feeling is they must be realizing they have problems with their plans. The Roundtable attendees planning the Southern Route believe the ODOT people in Cleveland are good people and want these right outcomes, but there are obstacles in Columbus that are political.

I spoke with many leaders in "government or community development" about this incompetent bridge planning process at that time - years ago- and was awed by their stupidity... or was it corruption?!?!

Obviously, if it was all up to Senator Voinovich we were screwed from the beginning... as Voinovich proves to be human garbage...  he wanted this garbage here... so it is no surprise he failed this community on this issue. Is that what screwed us completely... our cowardly leaders selling out to Voinovich... is there more...?

Cleveland Institute of Art BA and Kent State University Cleveland Urban Design Collaborative planning Master
Joseph Stanley had a more intelligent design for the future of Cleveland than the leaders of our community have embraced

The planning of this bridge has been so pathetic... where to begin...?!?! Name names of the failures who brought this upon us.

Start with the leadership at Gateway Development Corporation, who wanted a tight bridge line to contain development to their area... and continue along through the Midtown trench area only concerned with their off-ramps... past ugly-bridge sponsors Cleveland State University and Kent State Center for Urban Design who should challenge flawed planning... to see all who failed this community on this project, and all who must now live with harmful results.

Nobody in any planning organization in town spoke against this flawed process and they all seemed pleased to bend over to anything ODOT said... FOR YEARS!

I watched this planning process closely and will say that was the most uninspiring and cowardly experience I have seen here since everyone  in "government or community development" went along with demolishing the Breuer... and went along with moving the port to Whiskey Island - all demonstrations every planning and leadership process of any sort here is broken, and everyone in "government or community development" who has a finger or say in these decisions should be terminated.

Unreal NEO planners... this DECADE has been a disgrace - you are all disgraces. Live with it.

The last time I saw Paul Alsenas - that I even realized hs was alive - was at Ed Hauser's funeral. I didn't even say hello to him, for selling the community out on this issue.... selling out Ed... this was Ed's issue - Ed's issue, and Ed's alone, as we see by this complete community failure since he died.

So was the Breuer. So Was Whiskey Island.

Leaders in "government or community development" - just another pathetic cowardly pack of stupid sell out clowns in a cast of fools running this region.

And you shall see the results, over the next decade, of wasting billions on poor community planning here... no benefit and profit for any local businesses, except save some concrete companies and some short term construction jobs, which could be applied to well planned infrastructure just as easily as to poor design.

Another Healthline disaster from ODOT... Sherrod Brown's brother Robert Brown's ODOT... Jones Day's ODOT.

Pathetic - on this project, our leaders and community get the complete falure they deserve... and the citizens deserve to be screwed for letting their leaders be failures. I watched this closely and this is a failure of pathetic local leadership and the citizens who have sold out their communities to fools, and nothing less.

Show me any local leaders who asked for things to go any differently than this end result - you brought this shit on yourselves... and your children will be receiving this postcard from you after they move the hell out of the shithole town you have brought upon them....

I always told Ed he was way too nice.