Akron highway construction season is drawing to a close. Here's what to know.
The end is near, at least for some closures and detours that have sent motorists touring far-off parts of the Akron highway system this summer. But the pain will linger until construction season closes and winter storms arrive.
The area's biggest build, referred to as the "Central Interchange" project, is wrapping up its second construction season. Technically termed the I-76/I-77/SR 8 Akron Beltway Improvements, the $160 million endeavor started last summer. It's expected to last until May 2025, and includes several segments:
Pavement replacement and addition of lanes on I-77 between Waterloo Road and Lovers Lane.
Pavement replacement on I-76/I-77 from Princeton Avenue to the I-77/State Route 261 interchange.
Pavement replacement on I-76, I-77 and Route 8 at the Central Interchange.
Resurfacing and the addition of a southbound lane on Route 8 between Carroll Street and Beacon Street .
The re-alignment of left hand turn ramps − I-76 westbound to I-77 southbound and I-76 eastbound to State Route 8 northbound − to improve turn radius.
Remake of Akron highways: Central Interchange project enters second year
After around one year of construction, crews made a big change to the Interstate 77 traffic pattern in July as traffic on I-77 northbound between I-277/U.S. 224 and the Central Interchange was switched over onto newly constructed northbound pavement. Workers will finish up the northbound side of the highway this year.
After that, motorists will get a yearlong reprieve from construction on that stretch of I-77 as work on other parts of the highway system will delay reconstruction of the southbound lanes until 2024.
Ramps reopening this fall
Ramps along I-77 between Coventry Township and the Central Interchange will gradually reopen as the year enters its final months.
By late September, the ramp from Waterloo road to I-77 north should reopen, pending the city of Akron's work replacing a culvert under Waterloo Road.
"We're working with the city of Akron, 'cause they're doing a drainage project up there," said Justin Chesnik, ODOT District 4 spokesman. "We're getting close."
In October, the I-77 northbound ramps to Wilbeth Road and to I-76 east should reopen. The onramp from Wilbeth to I-77 will remain closed until late November, or early December, as traffic on the highway will still have to be limited.
It will take a few more weeks for the I-76 westbound ramp from I-77 north to reopen.
"Once we get all that northbound phase done, and we're thinking early December, we'll reopen the ramp from I-77 north to I-76 west," he said. "Once you get to Thanksgiving, early December, the part of the work on I-77, the northbound side, will be mostly done."
Ramps leading to I-77 north at the I-76/I-277/US-224 interchange in Coventry Township interchange will reopen some time in November.
"Mainly everything is going to be open. The only thing that is be closed is the ramp from Route 8 south to I-76 west and that's supposed to open up in May 2023," Chesnik said.
Paving, closures on west side of town
While other ramps are set to reopen on the east side of town, one major connection − from I-76 on the Kenmore Leg to I-76east/I-77 south − is set to close late this year through the fall of 2023.
While a date hasn't been announced, the closure is related to paving work under-way between Princeton Avenue and East Avenue.
Contractors there are currently rebuilding westbound lanes of I-76 and should begin working on middle lanes some time in December.
"Once they get into that phase, you'll have three lanes on I-76 westbound and two lanes on I-76 eastbound," Chesnik said. "Because it's only two lanes, it's more narrow. We have to close that ramp because traffic won't be able to merge."
The detour for northbound traffic heading east will be either via the Vernon Odom Boulevard exit and reentry to I-76 east, or on I-277 to Coventery Township, where the ramp to I-77 north will have been reopened.
The ramp from I-76 west to Dart Avenue is scheduled to close Sept. 26 for about 40 days. Contractors will be rebuilding Dart Avenue, including drainage to Lakeshore Boulevard.
I-77 widening south of Akron continues
Interstate 77 from Arlington Road north to Waterloo Road is wrapping up its second year, with about two years to go until its scheduled completion date in August, 2024.
The $50 million project entails adding lanes to where the center median of the highway once stood, along with widening and reconfiguring the I-77/I-277/U.S. 224 interchange in Coventry Township. Once complete, I-77 south from the interchange to Warner Road will be widened to five lanes, and to four lanes south from Warner Road to Arlington Road.
The project started last summer when contractors began rebuilding lanes in the center of the highway. Work shifted to the southbound lanes in May and by year's end, the southbound lanes should be completed, leaving the northbound side of the highway to be rebuilt.
"The good news is we're ahead of schedule," Chesnik said, adding the last phase of this year's work should start in a few weeks. "The plan is to pave the southbound lanes in September."
Noise walls are also planned for various locations along I-77, I-277, and US 224, after residents and property owners voted in favor of their construction.
Akron residents' input required for noise wall construction
ODOT has recommended the construction of noise walls at various locations adjacent to the Kenmore Leg. Though the work is still a few years off, residents and property owners who would benefit from the walls were contacted in July about whether or not they want a noise wall built. If the majority of them want a wall, then ODOT will build it. Comments are requested by Sept. 8.
The walls would be part of $100 million on repairs and improvements to I-76 between the I-76/I-77 interchange and the I-76/I-277/US-224 interchange, which is referred to locally as the Kenmore Leg of the highway system in Akron. Construction could begin as early as 2026. The work is expected to last three years.
A map of the proposed noise walls can be found on ODOT's project site page, Project ID number 100719, titled "Interstate 76/Kenmore leg Roadway Improvements."
ODOT’s website has project information and an online commenting form. Comments can also be made by contacting Robert Lang, ODOT environmental specialist, at Robert.Lang@dot.ohio.gov or 330-786-4975.
Four-year Route 8 project complete
Work on six miles of Route 8 that started two years before the pandemic is now complete, save some minor issues.
The $58 million project replaced highway pavement from Graham Road in Cuyahoga Falls, through Stow, Hudson and Boston Heights to Route 303.
The project also included two bridge deck replacements, along with short ramp closures at the Graham Road, Seasons Road, Steels Corners Road, and Route 303 interchanges.
Economic impact: Seasons Road interchange ramping up as hot spot for development along Route 8
Eric Marotta can be reached at 330-541-9433, or emarotta@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter @MarottaEric.
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Ramps reopening: Akron highway construction season drawing to a close
