BRECKSVILLE, Ohio — As winter officially comes to a close next week, we’re preparing for orange barrel season in Northeast Ohio.
The Ohio Department of Transportation held their 2023 "construction kickoff" with a press conference in Brecksville on Wednesday morning. During their discussion, officials provided updates on several existing projects along I-77 and announced plans for additional changes that will soon impact drivers.
Here are the highlights...
ODOT DISTRICT 12: CUYAHOGA, LAKE, GEAUGA
67 total projects this year at an estimated $545 million.
I-77 / Miller Road interchange
This $36.3 million project, which started in November 2022, includes pavement widening on I-77 between the Ohio Turnpike and state Route 21 near the border between Summit and Cuyahoga counties.
New ramps from I-77 North to Miller and from Miller to I-77 South are also being added. District 12 Construction Engineer Jason Young says these ramps on the southern half of the interchange are estimated to open by October of this year.
The entire project is estimated to be complete by November 2024.
I-480 West near the Cleveland Hopkins Airport
“This area of I-480 westbound sees backup during the evening rush hour with the average speed through the area documented at 26 mph,” Young says. “This project will reconfigure I-480 westbound and the ramps at these interchanges to make merging easier by increasing available space.”
Work on this $12 million project began in late February. It’s expected to be complete by the summer of 2024.
You can watch the full ODOT press conference in the video below:
ODOT DISTRICT 4: Ashtabula, Mahoning, Trumbull, Portage, Summit, Stark
“We’re going to have a very robust program this year,” says District 4 Construction Engineer Mike Simpkins. “We have over $700 million in construction contracts with over $300 million in new contracts this season.”
I-77 between Everett Road and Route 21 in Bath and Richfield
Project to widen I-77 to three lanes in each direction. Starting this September through July 2026. $68.8 million cost.
I-77 in Copley / Fairlawn
This project will completely replace the bridge over state Route 21. Construction will begin this spring.
I-77 from Arlington Road to 224
This project is expected to wrap up this fall as crews add a fourth lane in each direction of I-77.
Route 8 bridge in Akron
“That project is going to build a new southbound Route 8 structure to the west of the existing structure,” Simpkins explains.
Starting this summer and ending in 2028, Simpkins says it carries an estimated cost of $140 million.
“Then we will demo the existing structure and build a new northbound structure. In its place, the new structures are going to be much wider than the existing structures because we’re going to add a fourth lane on the bridge as well full shoulders.”
Akron Beltway
Now in its third year of construction, Simpkins says it’s expected to wrap in July of 2025.
“We will be focusing on I-76 between East Avenue and state Route 59,” he says. “We will be working on our new left-hand ramps at the Central Interchange. The new ramp from eastbound 76 to northbound state Route 8 should come online this fall.”
Project includes: Pavement replacement and addition of lanes on I-77 from just north of I-277/U.S. 224 to Lovers Lane, pavement replacement on I-76/I-77 from Princeton Ave. to the I-77/SR 261 interchange and pavement replacement on the I-76, I-77 and SR 8 at the Central Interchange.
DISTRICT 3: ASHLAND, CRAWFORD, ERIE, HURON, LORAIN, MEDINA, RICHLAND, WAYNE
75 new projects to begin this year. Estimated cost: $150 million. 15 carryover projects will continue at an estimated cost of $170 million.
Richland 30 project: Major rehab through Mansfield
“After three years of construction, we’ll be wrapping that up this summer,” says ODOT District 3 Construction Engineer Mike Fair.
State Route 18 widening and major rehab project from I-71 to Medina
This $23 million project is starting its second year of construction. It's expected to finish by June 2024.
Route 21
A “major project” from the Stark County line up to the Summit County line. This includes a pavement rehabilitation project and safety improvements.
Editor's note: Video in the player above was originally published in an unrelated traffic story on Jan. 11, 2023.