AKRON, Ohio — The Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) has reached a "major milestone" in its $161 million Akron Beltway (also known as the Central Interchange) reconstruction project.
Last week, the new flyover ramp bridge from I-76 eastbound to State Route 8 northbound was opened to traffic. Crews broke ground on the 850-foot structure in late 2021.
"This ramp is wider now that it's 30 foot from toe-to-toe to the parapet," explained ODOT Transportation Engineer Ray Fridley. "You have a 16-foot lane, a 10-foot left shoulder, a four-foot right shoulder. It will be more suited to the traveling public."
The new structure includes one just over one million pounds of structural steel, 500,000 pounds of epoxy coated reinforcing steel and 2,400 cubic yards of concrete. The total bridge deck area is 28,400 square feet.
The $161 million Akron Beltway reconstruction project features pavement reconstruction of portions of I-76, I-77, and SR 8 along with the construction of two new flyover ramps at the Central Interchange. Specific parts of the project include:
- 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
- Pavement replacement on I-76, I-77 and State Route 8 at the Central Interchange
- Resurfacing of State Route 8
- The addition of a southbound lane on State Route 8 between Carroll St. and Beacon St.
- 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
The Akron Beltway reconstruction project is set to be completed in the late summer of 2025. You can find out more about the opening of the ramp bridge from ODOT in the below video:
Related Stories:
- Ohio Department of Transportation, Mayor Dan Horrigan break ground on State Route 8 bridge replacement in Akron
- ODOT announces $28 million to repair, replace or demolish 24 aging bridges in Ohio: See which locations are included
- ODOT outlines 2023 construction season with projects across Northeast Ohio: What you can expect on I-77, Route 8, I-480 and more