Rain and Construction Slow Cleveland Commute; Major Delays on I-90 and Carnegie

Morning Traffic Overview

Commuters in Cleveland should prepare for a slow Tuesday morning as a combination of wintry weather and ongoing major infrastructure projects impacts several key routes. Light rain and a potential snow mix are forecast to continue throughout the day, which may create slippery conditions on the interstates, particularly during the morning rush. Drivers are advised to increase following distances and allow an extra 15 to 20 minutes for travel into the downtown area and University Circle.

Major Interstate Alerts

• I-90 (Innerbelt & Central Interchange): Work continues on the I-90 Central Interchange between East 9th Street and Carnegie Avenue. Expect lane shifts and narrow lanes. On the West Side, I-90 Eastbound remains reduced to three lanes between Hilliard Boulevard and Alger Road as part of a major rehabilitation project scheduled to last through the end of the year.
• I-77 & Wallings Road: In Broadview Heights, the Wallings Road bridge over I-77 remains closed for replacement. Commuters should use Pleasant Valley Road as the primary detour. I-77 itself may experience intermittent shoulder closures and lane restrictions in this area for bridge work.
• I-480 & SR 176 (Jennings Freeway): The ramp from West 7th Street southbound to I-480 eastbound remains closed for pavement replacement. Additionally, bridge deck work near the Steelyard Commons on SR 176 is causing restrictions for those merging onto I-71 southbound.

Surface Street Closures and Hospital Zones

• Carnegie Avenue Rehabilitation: Major work between East 79th Street and Martin Luther King Jr. Drive has reduced traffic to just one lane in each direction. This is a high-congestion zone, especially for those heading toward the Cleveland Clinic and University Circle.
• MLK Jr. Drive: Northbound lanes are restricted between Cedar Avenue and Euclid Avenue to accommodate the construction of Case Western Reserve University’s new Interdisciplinary Science and Engineering Building.
• Cleveland Clinic Main Campus: Long-term closures remain in effect on East 90th Street (between Euclid and Carnegie) and East 100th Street (near the P2 parking garage). Patients and visitors are encouraged to use Euclid Avenue for access and add 20 minutes to their arrival plans.
• Ward 8 Utility Work: Enbridge Gas Ohio is conducting pipeline replacement on East 91st and East 92nd Streets near St. Clair Avenue. Work hours are 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., with flaggers present to manage two-way traffic through the work zone.

Public Transit and RTA Updates

The Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority (GCRTA) reminds riders that system-wide service adjustments related to the 2026 budget gap are now in effect. Most notably, free Wi-Fi service is no longer available on any buses, trains, or trolleys. While no major rail outages are reported for this Tuesday, riders on the Red, Blue, and Green lines should monitor schedules for frequency changes. Transit users should also expect minor delays on bus routes traversing the Carnegie Avenue construction corridor.