Cleveland drivers face record summer road construction season starting now

Work on several major highway projects between Cleveland and Sandusky is set to intensify this summer, with lane shifts and ramp closures expected on key routes including Interstate 90.

The timing follows the end of one of the roughest winters in recent years, when many projects paused. Ohio Department of Transportation officials used a closed entrance ramp at McKinley Avenue in Lakewood to highlight the start of new and resumed work across the region, marking what they described as a record construction season.

Projects centered on Cleveland interchange and western suburbs

One of the largest efforts involves a six-year, $328 million reconstruction of the I-90 and I-77 interchange area just south of Progressive Field. The work will rebuild and modernize the highway and bridge network from Ontario Street to Carnegie Avenue, with lane closings and shifts common though the highways will stay open except for brief off-peak closures. This project comes alongside continued overhaul of I-90 from West Boulevard in Cleveland through Lakewood to Hilliard Boulevard in Rocky River, part of $173 million in improvements through 2028 that already include the current closure of the McKinley Avenue eastbound entrance ramp.

Further west, a second year of $116 million work will focus on adding a third lane in each direction on I-90 from Ohio 611 in Avon to the Ohio Turnpike access road in western Lorain County, with lane shifts beginning on the westbound side within weeks. These efforts build on earlier phases that have already reshaped travel patterns for commuters heading out of Cuyahoga County.

Route improvements extend toward Cedar Point and Summit County

Access improvements to Cedar Point and Sandusky are also scheduled to begin by mid-summer along U.S. 6 from the Rye Beach Road interchange with Ohio 2 to the Sandusky city line. The work through 2029 will widen lanes, install five roundabouts, and add a multi-purpose trail. In Summit County, widening of I-77 from Ghent Road to Everett northeast of Akron is slated to finish in 2027, while replacement of the high-level Ohio 8 bridge between Perkins Street and Glenwood Avenue in Akron continues toward a 2028 completion.

To ease pressure during the downtown interchange rebuild, ODOT will widen Ohio 176, known as the Jennings Freeway, from two to three lanes in each direction from Denison Avenue to the intersection with I-71, I-90 and I-490, trimming shoulder space while maintaining 12-foot driving lanes and completing the job by October. Statewide the agency plans work on 739 bridges and 4,562 miles of roadway this year.

Motorists can find project details by county in the online ODOT Construction Guide and sign up for email updates through the agency's project portal. Lane restrictions and ramp changes will vary, so checking current conditions before travel remains the practical step for those heading west from Cleveland this season.