OH 8 -> I-380?

[hbelkins]

It is now, yes.  And the hypothetical 777 would end near one of the new "racinos" (racetrack casinos) that just opened.

I thought the Indian casinos were "racinos".

"Racino" has always been the term used for West Virginia's facilities, like the greyhound racing track at Cross Lanes that now has slot machines. It's also the term that's tossed around in Kentucky when the legalization of casino gambling is discussed, since the horse industry wants to operate casinos so they can prop up their horse racing operations with gambling revenue.

[thenetwork]

^^ I think you may have missed that comment there. 

Anyhoo, I still would prefer an I-x77 assignment, but if it is going to be an odd-numbered interstate, then I-380 or I-580 would suffice, since the interstate would be a two-directional spur off of I-80/Turnpike.

...Or they can pull a weird PennDOT/I-376-esque alignment and extend I-277 to begin at the I-77/SR21 interchange, then route I-277 south along SR-21 to I-76/US-224, east back to I-77 (via US-224 and the current I-277 alignment), North on I-77 and onto SR-8 and then north to I-271. <just kidding>.

[Bitmapped]

^^ I think you may have missed that comment there. 

Anyhoo, I still would prefer an I-x77 assignment, but if it is going to be an odd-numbered interstate, then I-380 or I-580 would suffice, since the interstate would be a two-directional spur off of I-80/Turnpike.

...Or they can pull a weird PennDOT/I-376-esque alignment and extend I-277 to begin at the I-77/SR21 interchange, then route I-277 south along SR-21 to I-76/US-224, east back to I-77 (via US-224 and the current I-277 alignment), North on I-77 and onto SR-8 and then north to I-271. <just kidding>.

I know you're not being serious, but there is an at-grade intersection on SR 21 between I-77 and I-76.

[sandwalk]

I know you're not being serious, but there is an at-grade intersection on SR 21 between I-77 and I-76.

True. But it's for a Minor Road.

[exit322]

I know you're not being serious, but there is an at-grade intersection on SR 21 between I-77 and I-76.

True. But it's for a Minor Road.

He has a point.

[busman_49]

I know you're not being serious, but there is an at-grade intersection on SR 21 between I-77 and I-76.

True. But it's for a Minor Road.

I got that one instantly!

[thenetwork]

Here is the latest on the fight to turn SR-8 into I-380 (seems to be the definitive route number choice) between I-76/I-77 and I-271 in the Akron area:

http://www.recordpub.com/news%20local/2014/04/24/officals-make-a-new-plea-for-i-380

Seems that ODOT is the one that doesn't want to add another interstate to their roster.

The biggest pile of BS from ODOT says, "...the change would be too expensive with significant costs to replace signs, additional maintenance personnel, facilities and materials." 

- Excuse me, ODOT, but haven't you upgraded many area BGS's at least TWICE in the last 10-15 years? Where did you come up with that money so you could be Clearview happy?

- And you need additional personnel, facilities & materials if you convert SR-8 "Interstate Grade" freeway to a signed Interstate 380?  I swear I have seen your yellow & white ODOT trucks plowing, salting and patching that highway well before it was not an interstate grade freeway.  What is the big difference?

Anyhoo, I applaud all the area communities and Akron proper in continuing to push the idea down ODOT's throats.

[triplemultiplex]

Anyhoo, I applaud all the area communities and Akron proper in continuing to push the idea down ODOT's throats.

Except for their choice of number.
An even x77 is more appropriate.

[thenetwork]

I think they proposed I-380 because they still want some sort of remnant of SR-8 to remain with the highway.  (I-380), and for Turnpike travelers who bypass Cleveland proper and use I-271 to I-90 East (or vice-versa), a x80 spur route makes more sense than an x77 number.

I doubt that ODOT would want a SR-8/I-380 multiplex on the same stretch of freeway -- at most, maybe a 1-year overlap to ease the conversion confusion.  More likely scenarios:

- <Most Likely> SR-8's southern terminus would be truncated to I-271.

- <Feasible Option> SR-8's alignment from Akron to Cleveland is completely decommissioned and the SR-8 alignment between I-271 and US-422 in Shaker Heights (a.k.a. mostly Northfield Road) reverts to local city control & maintenance.  This would give ODOT the "extra funds" to put towards the "additional costs" of maintaining I-380.

- <Slim Chance>  SR-8's southern terminus would be truncated to I-80/Ohio Turnpike and I-380's northern terminus would begin there.  SR-8 southbound signs above the Turnpike would also include "TO I-380 South".   This would be somewhat similar to how I-280 and SR-420 work on both sides of the Turnpike in Toledo.

- <Longshot> SR-8 would still share road with I-380 from I-271 to SR-303, then SR-8 would be rerouted back to it's original Akron-Cleveland Road / State Road / Main Street alignment -- potentially ending at SR-18/West Market Street in Downtown Akron.

-  <Extreme Longshot> SR-8 either remains duplexed along I-380, or reverts to it's original alignment, to Perkins Avenue in Downtown Akron, then follows the Akron Innerbelt to I-76/I-77, replacing SR-59 and truncating SR-59's western terminus to I-380 (current SR-8) @ Front Street.   Extreme longshot, since some people would think that SR-8 on the Innerbelt is the North Leg of the Akron Expressway system and would wonder what happened to the rest of the freeway when they get to the end of the Innerbelt.

[Henry]

Looks like those Akronites will never give up until ODOT finally gives in...