Brook Park City leaders meet with ODOT to discuss traffic modifications around new Browns site

BROOK PARK, Ohio (WOIO) - Progress continues to be made in Brook Park as the Browns move one step closer to calling the City their new home.

Brook Park City Officials confirmed to 19 News that they met with Directors from Ohio Department of Transportation to talk about traffic around the new site.

“Our biggest concern here in the City of Brook Park is when this project is done, that when there are visitors, we cannot only accommodate the visitors, but also be able to accommodate travelers,” says Brian Beyer, Public Works Director for Brook Park.

Beyer says representatives for the Haslams also attended the meeting.

They discussed how to secure the funding needed to make the modifications around the complex.

“The City of Brook Park understands that we will have to be a sponsor in order to seek any funding that may be available to help assists with these modifications that will have to be done,” says Beyer.

They have done multiple traffic studies and found the modifications needed to be made are minor.

Beyer says this is because the roads around the site are already accommodating.

“We can keep visitors out of our neighborhoods, but still accommodate all their travel needs. Like I says whether it become rail, airport, or freeway access,” says Beyer.

Brook Park Mayor Edward Orcutt says the facility, as it is right now, can hold up to 22,000 parking spaces, but they know that number will have to increase significantly before the first event at the new dome.

“There definitely has been conversations with creating more parking. At this point it really hasn’t been in detail,” says Beyer.

On Friday, crews could be seen along both sides of Snow Road.

19 News was told they were drilling and testing soil around the site to make sure it is structurally sound.

“The infrastructure around it is solid and the bones are great. That is why this site is such a good site,” says Beyer.

To make sure the process is seamless for those visiting Brook Park, Beyer says more traffic studies will continue.