(Cleveland) - Starting May 29, 2019 construction crews working on Section 3 of the Opportunity Corridor Project will be closing I-490 between East 55th Street and I-77 for approximately two years.
Amanda McFarland of ODOT District 12 says traffic will be detoured via Woodland or Carnegie avenues to access East 55th Street. Specific detours are as follows:
-77 northbound detour to East 55th Street northbound:
- Exit at East 22nd Street/East 14th Street
- Keep left onto East 14th Street
- Keep right onto East 18th Street
- Turn right on Carnegie Avenue to East 55th Street
I-77 northbound detour to East 55th Street southbound:
- Exit at Woodland Avenue/East 30th Street
- Keep right onto Woodland Avenue to East 55th Street
I-77 southbound detour to East 55th Street:
- Exit at Woodland Avenue/East 30th Street
- Keep left onto Woodland Avenue to East 55th Street
East 55th Street detour to I-490 westbound:
- West on Woodland Ave to East 30th Street
- Keep left and merge onto Orange Avenue
- Keep right, merge onto I-77 southbound
Prior to the I-490 closure, temporary pavement will be installed to allow northbound and southbound traffic to continue on East 55th Street between approximately Bower and Francis avenues. Commuters should follow detour signage visible along the construction areas and are urged to use caution in the work zones.
Work during this two-year closure will include:
- Demolition of existing buildings, bridges and tree removal
- Reconstruction of the existing streets and intersections along the new boulevard
- Major underground work including sanitary sewers, waterlines, drainage and utility services
- Construction of new bridges and retaining walls
McFarland tells Newsradio WTAM 1100, the OC3 design-build project will ultimately connect I-490/I-77 to E. 93rd Street, where Section 2 leaves off.
She says OC3 construction highlights will include two new pedestrian bridges, four new bridges located over the boulevard, six signalized intersections, new water mains, new major sanitary and storm sewers, along with tree lawns, sidewalks and a shared-use path.
To date, the Opportunity Corridor project milestones include the completion of Section 1 with the widening of the existing East 105th Street between Quebec and Chester avenues. Section 2 opened to traffic late-November 2018 and features a new roadway between East 93rd Street and Quebec Avenue including the new East 105th Street Bridge that passes over Norfolk Southern Railroad and the newly expanded Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority station platform.
Kokosing Construction Company, Inc. was awarded the design-build contract on the third and final section of the Opportunity Corridor with a bid amount of $150,858,250.
McFarland adds, that the purpose of the Opportunity Corridor Project is to improve transportation and economic development in the historically underserved part of Cleveland known as the “Forgotten Triangle” located within the City of Cleveland, between I-490/I-77 and University Circle.
The three-mile boulevard is being created to provide improved access to and through the communities of Slavic Village, Central, Kinsman, Buckeye-Shaker, and Fairfax. The Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) District 12 is leading the project in partnership with the City of Cleveland.
(Photos by Ken Robinson/WTAM & the Ohio Department of Transportation)
© 2019 iHeartMedia, Inc.
Hear news updates at the top and bottom of the hour: wtam.com/listen