Senator Smith Announces Progress on Inner Belt Plan, Reopening of Lanes and Ramps into Neighborhoods

Having worked closely with the Ohio Department of Transportation to pursue an aggressive timeline on repairs to Cleveland’s Interstate 90 Innerbelt Bridge, State Senator Shirley Smith and ODOT officials are advancing the latest and most comprehensive phase of the Innerbelt Bridge Safety Plan with plans to reopen closed lanes and ramps as early as the end of November.

"Many neighborhoods have had limited access to I-90 since ODOT restricted traffic on the aging structure in October 2008," said Senator Smith. “This is especially true for Tremont’s W. 14^th Street on-ramp, which was initially scheduled to be reopened in September. Despite delays and other obstacles in the process, I am happy that ODOT has finally received federal approval to get commuters back on the road by November.”

The work announced today is part of the state’s $10 million investment this construction season on the Innerbelt Bridge. When complete, the W. 14th Street ramp to I-90 eastbound and the Ontario Street ramp to I-90 westbound will both be reopened to motorists.

This phase of work was made possible only after an extensive, detailed analysis of the steel members and connections of the main structure. The majority of work on this phase of the Safety Plan will be performed during daytime hours while the bridge remains open for service. ODOT says limited overnight and weekend closures may be necessary as crews work to complete repairs. Work is expected to begin in mid- to late September.

In March, 2009 ODOT announced plans to construct a new $400 million westbound Innerbelt Bridge, utilizing federal transportation stimulus funds made available through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. Construction of the new westbound bridge is expected to being in 2011.