Brace for traffic: Wave of Northeast Ohio road projects begins
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Illustration: Sarah Grillo/Axios
Hell is real, and its name is I-480.
Why it matters: Northeast Ohio drivers are girding their loins for another road construction season.
- Interstates will once again be colonized by orange barrels and concrete Jersey barriers, leading to rage-inducing traffic jams all summer long.
Driving the news: The Ohio Department of Transportation announced 172 new projects last week across Northeast Ohio totaling nearly $900 million.
- That's a small piece of the $3.2 billion budget for 955 projects statewide this year.
Zoom in: The one with the greatest local impact is the repaving of bridges at the I-480/I-77 split.
- The I-480 eastbound exit to I-77 northbound, plus the I-480 westbound exit to I-77 southbound, will soon close through September.
Translation: If you're traveling on I-480 east, you will not be able to get onto I-77 north to head downtown.
- To detour, drivers will have to continue on I-480 east and reverse course to I-480 west at the Transportation Boulevard exit.
Our advice: Steer clear of Transportation Boulevard, for the love of God.
Zoom out: I-90 will see significant construction work in Lorain County. A three-year, $110 million project will repave and widen the highway.
- Closer to home, the I-90 eastbound ramp to East 55th Street will close Monday through early June for pavement replacement.
What they're saying: "We know that drivers see ODOT's orange barrels and cones as an inconvenience, but they are also a signal of progress and improvement," Gov. Mike DeWine said in a press release.
- "This year's transportation projects will continue to ensure that our infrastructure keeps pace, improving the quality of life for those who live, work, and visit Ohio."
Go deeper: Check out the full list of 2025 ODOT projects.