New detour in Akron after ODOT closes ramp from Route 8 South to I-76 East at Central Interchange through late August

AKRON, Ohio — Drivers who take the Central Interchange in Akron are going to notice a new traffic impact as the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) says the ramp from Route 8 South to I-76 East will now be closed “through late August for bridge reconstruction.”

ODOT says the suggested detour is I-76 West to I-76 / Kenmore Leg to I-277 East to I-77 North to I-76 East.

In addition, ODOT provided these additional traffic updates regarding the project:

• I-77 South to Archwood Avenue is closed through late July
• The ramp from Interstate I-77 South to Waterloo Road is closed through late August

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When asked for clarification on Facebook about the closure and detour, ODOT provided the following image:

This ramp closure is part of the Akron Beltway construction project, which ODOT says began in the summer of 2021.

“By late fall this year, all the ramps around the beltway will be open, and there will just be final paving to occur in early summer 2025,” ODOT posted Monday in response to a comment on Facebook.

Here’s a summary describing the Akron Beltway project as listed on ODOT’s site:

In 2021, the Ohio Department of Transportation began a $160 million project to make substantial improvements around the Akron Beltway. The project includes pavement replacement and addition of lanes on I-77 between U.S. 224 and State Route 8, pavement replacement on I-76/I-77 from Princeton Ave. to the I-77/State Route 261 interchange and pavement replacement on I-76, I-77 and State Route 8 at the Central Interchange. The project also includes resurfacing of State Route 8 and the addition of a southbound lane on State Route 8 between Carroll St. and Beacon St. and the re-alignment of left hand turn ramps (I-76 westbound to I-77 southbound and I-76 eastbound to State Route 8 northbound) to improve turn radius.

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