Travelers in Cleveland should brace for delays as emergency repairs on W. 117th bridge over Interstate 90 kick off this week. According to a social media post by the Ohio Department of Transportation District 12 Cleveland, starting at 7 p.m. on Friday, October 17, construction crews will begin repair work that is expected to last about a month, leading to significant traffic alterations in the area.
Specifically, eastbound traffic on I-90 at W. 117th Street will be squeezed down to two lanes, while the southbound entrance ramp to the interstate at W. 117th will be completely closed off. This adjustment is estimated to cause a considerable slowdown. The Ohio Department of Transportation has communicated to road users that they should consider departing earlier than usual and utilize OHGO for live traffic updates, possibly even considering the Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority (RTA) as an alternative travel method.
The urgency of these repairs is attributed to damage sustained by the bridge in a hit earlier this spring. The Ohio Department of Transportation mentioned in their announcement, "This is emergency work is due to a bridge hit this past spring." By consolidating the emergency repairs with the ongoing I-90 Major Rehab project, the Department seeks to mitigate the impact by employing the existing construction zone and contractor services.
