Mentor-area commuters are in for a long construction season as the Ohio Department of Transportation gets ready to rip out and replace the bridge deck on SR 283 where it crosses SR 44.
Pre-phase work is slated to start in March, with lane restrictions on SR 283 scheduled to begin Monday, March 9. The main construction phase is expected to kick off in April. Drivers should plan on daytime impacts under the bridge, including lane reductions, and ODOT is already warning that the SR 44 southbound exit ramp to SR 283 will be shut down for roughly four months later in 2026. Anyone who relies on that ramp should expect posted detours and extra time baked into the commute while crews are on site.
Agency photos and an advisory post show crews inspecting the structure and spell out the basic staging: pre-phase work in March, lane restrictions beginning March 9, main work starting in April, and an extended closure of the SR 44 southbound ramp during construction. Drivers are being told to expect daily lane reductions beneath the SR 283 bridge along with shifting traffic patterns as the project moves through its phases, according to ODOT District 12 Cleveland.
Timeline and lane changes
ODOT District 12 notes that the initial pre-phase and lane restriction dates are weather dependent and could shift, so the March and April targets are not set in stone. The agency is steering commuters to its regular traffic advisories and the OHGO app for real-time updates as the schedule firms up.
The pattern here is familiar to anyone who has watched recent District 12 work in the region: pre-work, followed by a multi-month closure of a key connector ramp while crews swap out a bridge deck. For a sense of how those ramp shutdowns can ripple through daily drives, look to recent coverage from News 5 Cleveland.
How to navigate the work
ODOT and local officials are urging drivers to slow down in work zones, follow posted detours and stay alert for workers and heavy equipment at the SR 283 and SR 44 interchange. The agency has leaned on safety tools such as crash attenuators and Ohio's Move Over protections in recent construction seasons to shield crews while projects like this play out. For details on those safety efforts and ODOT's work-zone messaging, see Spectrum News 1.
Where to get updates
ODOT says it will share photos, traffic notices and detour maps through its District 12 channels and the OHGO traffic system as the bridge project ramps up. The District 12 Facebook post lays out the initial schedule and shows the existing bridge conditions, and more updates are expected as crews move into the heart of construction.
Before heading through the SR 283 and SR 44 interchange, drivers are encouraged to check the latest closures, lane shifts and timing changes via ODOT District 12's traffic advisories and OHGO. For current weekly impacts and any revisions to the plan, visit ODOT District 12 and consult OHGO.
