City’s plan to connect Downtown with lakefront takes another big step forward [Video]

CLEVELAND — The City of Cleveland just took a huge stride toward a more accessible Downtown lakefront – winning a $69 million grant from the federal government.

Congresswoman Shontel Brown and Mayor Justin Bibb announced the award early Friday. The money is coming from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Reconnecting Communities Pilot Program, which is focused on healing wounds created by highways and rail lines.

At this point, Cleveland has secured $150 million in state and federal commitments for a land bridge that will link North Coast Harbor to the heart of Downtown and a makeover of the Shoreway as it slices through the central business district.

The city is on track to start construction on those projects in 2027 – after years of talks and decades of planning.

In a written statement, Bibb described the grant as a key step toward making the city easier to navigate.

“This funding …