Brook Park Stadium Plans Spark Traffic And Funding Debate

On the cusp of a new era for Cleveland Browns football, the region surrounding the team’s anticipated Brook Park stadium is abuzz with both optimism and anxiety. As the $3.4 billion public-private project inches forward, the Northeast Ohio Areawide Coordinating Agency (NOACA) has given a critical green light to a sweeping package of road improvements—yet questions about traffic, funding, and neighborhood impact linger in the air.

Friday, January 30, 2026, marked a pivotal moment. NOACA’s planning committee, after months of deliberation and additional study, unanimously approved Brook Park’s proposed upgrades to roads and pedestrian infrastructure near the future stadium site. According to cleveland.com, this decision followed updated traffic analyses that forecast minimal disruption to Cleveland Hopkins International Airport and only “acceptable delays” for stadium access. The full NOACA board could give its final blessing as soon as March 13, 2026.

“It’s great to see the independent analysis corroborates what our studies showed,” said Haslam Sports Group (HSG) Chief Administrative Officer Ted Tywang, reflecting a sense of vindication after earlier skepticism from some regional leaders.

The improvements, estimated at $82 million, are ambitious. Brook Park is seeking $70 million from the Ohio Department of Transportation, while HSG will contribute $12 million. The plan covers upgrades to the Interstate 71 interchange at Snow Road, modifications to local roads encircling the stadium, and a pedestrian bridge designed to shuttle fans from off-site parking. The goal is to complete all work before the stadium’s projected opening in 2029.

But it’s not just about new asphalt and concrete. NOACA’s analysis predicts that the real crunch will come after games and major events, when as many as 22,000 vehicles could attempt to leave at once. Main arteries like Snow and Brookpark roads are expected to see congestion spike by 70%, compared to a 16% hike on other local roads, 13% on highway ramps, and just 1% on major highways such as I-71, I-480, and Ohio 237. For those who frequent the airport, the news is reassuring: delays should be minimal, even during peak stadium activity.

Groundbreaking for the stadium is set for spring 2026. Brook Park has already granted permits for temporary electrical service and $65 million in excavation, setting the stage for rapid progress once all approvals are in place.

But for local business owners like Patrick Potopsky, who runs the newly rebranded 1928 Public House on Bagley Road in Middleburg Heights, the excitement is tempered by concern. A year ago, Potopsky shut down his previous establishment, Brew Garden, betting big on the Browns’ arrival. After a major renovation, he reopened with a fresh menu, expanded patio, and a plan to cater to game-day crowds. He’s secured access to 1,700 parking spots and is preparing to run shuttles for fans, offering pre-game brunches and Bloody Mary breakfasts. “They can park here for free, and then they just jump on our shuttles. All they have to do is just show a receipt,” Potopsky told News 5 Cleveland.

Still, he’s not convinced the area’s roads are up to the task. “There’s no way this gets done without widening those,” Potopsky said, pointing to Engle Road, State Route 237, and Front Street. “They’re already busy now.”

Potopsky’s skepticism isn’t isolated. NOACA’s planning committee, while advancing the Browns’ road plans, added a key stipulation: a broader study of traffic impacts on neighboring communities, especially Middleburg Heights. The Browns are already funding a separate traffic study of Bagley Road, focusing on the I-71 interchange and Engle Road intersection, with results expected by mid-February. “As of right now, there are no additional studies planned,” said Dennis Albrecht of Osborn Engineering, the Browns’ lead consultant.

Grace Gallucci, NOACA’s CEO, has described the process as “collaborative,” emphasizing the need for ongoing dialogue among Brook Park, the Browns, and surrounding communities. Middleburg Heights Mayor Matthew Castelli echoed that spirit: “There is a lot of collaboration on this. The Browns and Brook Park have reached out to make sure that we’re not just looking at this from a Brook Park standpoint and a Browns standpoint—but from a region standpoint. And I’m very appreciative of that.”

Castelli acknowledged a mix of excitement and apprehension among local business owners. While the investment promises to revitalize the area, concerns about traffic, customer access, and the region’s healthcare infrastructure persist. The Southwest General Health Center, located just across Bagley from Potopsky’s restaurant, is a particular focus. NOACA’s analysis predicts that even at the busiest times, delays for hospital access should remain under three minutes—a finding that offers some comfort, but not complete reassurance.

“We feel pretty good,” Castelli said, “but we know that there’s more due diligence that needs to be done, more studies that need to be done.” He stressed that it’s too soon to determine who will foot the bill for any additional roadwork in Middleburg Heights, but was clear: “I don’t think that should fall on the taxpayers of Middleburg Heights.”

Brook Park’s funding request is currently before the state’s Transportation Review Advisory Council, which is weighing it against more than two dozen other projects. A final decision is expected in April 2026. In the meantime, Brook Park and the Browns are also exploring federal funding options for infrastructure upgrades. The city’s planning commission will soon consider a lot consolidation and split for the roughly 180-acre stadium site, a move that will divide the property into six parcels and lay the groundwork for further development.

Mayor Edward Orcutt of Brook Park underscored the urgency: “We are at a critical time in this project. Obviously the small city of Brook Park cannot afford $80 million worth of improvements to our highway systems.” Committee member Scott Wangler, assistant engineer for Parma, recommended that the project team examine traffic further east along I-480, particularly at the Tiedeman Road and Ridge Road interchanges.

For Potopsky and other local entrepreneurs, the stakes are high. “They gotta nail it on the first phase. … Try and hit a grand slam,” he said, mixing his metaphors with a grin. Or, as he quickly corrected himself, “a touchdown.”

The next few months will be telling. As the Browns prepare to break ground and the region braces for transformative change, collaboration, transparency, and careful planning will be essential to ensure that the promise of a new stadium district brings prosperity—not gridlock—to Northeast Ohio.