Heavy Delays Expected as I-90 Central Interchange Project Hits Full Swing

Major Highway Construction and Lane Shifts

Commuters heading into Downtown Cleveland this morning should prepare for significant travel time increases. Following the official launch of the 2026 construction season earlier this week, the I-90 Central Interchange project is now in active status. Motorists will encounter various lane restrictions and traffic shifts on I-90 between East 9th Street and Carnegie Avenue as crews begin pavement replacement and preliminary work on several bridge structures, including the I-77 North to I-90 West ramp.

On the West Side, I-90 Eastbound remains reduced to three lanes between Hillard Boulevard and Alger Road. This restriction is part of a long-term rehabilitation project scheduled to continue through November. Additionally, expect various lane restrictions and short-duration ramp closures between West Boulevard and Hillard Boulevard. Drivers using the I-71 and State Route 176 corridor will face delays near the Steel Yard Commons, where bridge deck replacement on SR 176 North has narrowed the roadway and shifted traffic patterns.

I-77 and I-480 Corridor Alerts

Interstate 77 is seeing heavy activity this morning near the downtown area. Bridge deck replacements are underway on I-77 over Woodland Avenue (U.S. 422), East 22nd Street, and East 14th Street. While lanes remain open, the narrower clearances and presence of work crews are causing rubbernecking delays during the peak morning rush. Further south, the Wallings Road bridge replacement continues to impact I-77, with lane restrictions and shoulder closures expected throughout the day.

Local Surface Street Disruptions

• Carnegie Avenue: Rehabilitation work between East 79th Street and MLK Jr. Drive has reduced traffic to one lane in each direction. Use Chester Avenue or Euclid Avenue as alternatives.
• MLK Jr. Drive: A northbound lane closure remains in effect between Cedar Avenue and Euclid Avenue to accommodate ongoing construction for the Case Western Reserve University campus expansion.
• East 91st & 92nd Streets: Pipeline replacement work by Enbridge Gas Ohio continues between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. Expect flaggers and minor delays in Ward 8 near St. Clair Avenue.

GCRTA Public Transit Updates

The Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority (GCRTA) has successfully launched its new "Commuter Alerts" pilot project this week. Rail riders are encouraged to opt-in for text or email notifications to stay informed of real-time delays. While rail service is currently running on a normal Friday schedule, riders should prepare for the upcoming weekend outage: starting tomorrow, Saturday, March 7, Red Line service between Brookpark and the Airport will be replaced by 66R buses until approximately noon.