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Cleveland Manages Road Closures and Congestion Through Targeted Projects
Ongoing work on key routes coincides with measurable increases in driver delay compared to recent years.
How we reported this
The Central Interchange construction project, a $328 million six-year renovation, has triggered new nightly ramp closures on I-90 westbound to I-77 south and the East 21st ramp to I-77 from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. through mid-July 2026.
Central Interchange and Downtown Closures
East 14th Street south to Community College Avenue and westbound Community College Avenue toward East 14th Street remain fully closed until July 2026. Detours are directed via Carnegie Avenue and East 22nd Street. These measures form part of the larger Central Interchange effort that affects routes carrying substantial daily volumes in downtown Cleveland.
Additional Route Adjustments
Southbound traffic on Rocky River Drive from Munn Road to Lorain Avenue began rerouting on July 13, 2026, for road improvements scheduled to conclude by the end of August 2026. On the Carter Road Lift Bridge, traffic operates in one bi-directional lane with flaggers from June 22 through the end of June 2026, while sidewalk work continues until mid-September 2026.
Congestion Levels and City Response
Cleveland records an average highway congestion level of 21.2 percent, with drivers losing an average of 24 hours per year in rush hour traffic, 3 hours 50 minutes more than in 2024. The city is advancing a 15-minute city vision through its Citywide Mobility Plan and has received a $1.8 million federal SMART grant to prototype intelligent traffic signals offering emergency vehicle preemption, transit prioritization, and pedestrian detection. These steps align with multimodal safety work that includes speed tables and bus stop islands.
Drivers are advised to check current conditions before travel and follow posted detours around the affected segments on I-90, East 14th Street, Rocky River Drive, and the Carter Road Lift Bridge.