Bike project could jeopardize St. Patrick's Day parade route
Monday's St. Patrick's Day parade comes with a bit of drama.
Why it matters: This could be one of the last years the annual event, which draws hundreds of thousands of people downtown, takes place in its current form.
State of play: Construction is scheduled to begin later this year on the $25 million Superior Midway bike lane project, a 2.5-mile bicycle track down the center of Superior Avenue, the main route used for the parade.
The project is expected to be completed during the second half of 2026.
Friction point: The plan is to split vehicle traffic on Superior Avenue in two, with a raised median for bike lanes and landscaping in the middle.
The design would make the street unviable for the large floats and processions featured in the parade.
What they're saying: Patrick Murphy, director emeritus for the St. Patrick's Day Parade Committee, told News 5 the project puts the parade "in jeopardy."
"You're gonna squeeze us to a point where we're not gonna survive on Superior," he said.
John Togher, executive director of the parade committee, was more diplomatic with Axios.
"Our plan is to continue to discuss the future route of the parade with the city," Togher tells us. "Currently, the parade route will remain the same for the 2026 parade as the city is still finalizing the Superior Midway Project."
The other side: Cleveland spokesperson Jorge Ramos Pantoja called the parade a "foundational cornerstone" in a statement, but said the city is also responsible for street safety.
"In 2024, over 300 people experienced life-changing injury or death as a result of traffic crashes within our city," Pantoja said.
"Based on feedback from residents — and data — solutions like the Cleveland Midway Project have proven to increase road safety for everyone, by narrowing lanes, slowing speeds, and reducing crash severity."
What's next: Both sides say they're willing to discuss a new downtown parade route beginning in 2027.
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