Opportunity Corridor closure of I-490 extended
to November 2021

CLEVELAND - Additional work and safety measures required on Opportunity Corridor Blvd. has delayed the opening of I-490 between I-77 and E. 55th Street to November 1, 2021, when the entire new stretch of the boulevard will be substantially open to traffic.

Following a detailed review of the design plans, the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) requested a change to the grade – or slope – where I-490/Opportunity Blvd. passes under E. 55th St. The Design-Build Team’s plans met the minimum standards; however, ODOT preferred a more gradual slope in order to make the roadway safer for all users.

This change added approximately six months of work and $4.6 million to the project. Additionally, unforeseen utility relocation delays have had an impact on the project schedule. The design and construction changes, and utility delays will not impact the overall completion of project in summer 2022.

Bird's eye view of work to lower I-490/Opportunity Corridor Blvd.
under the new E. 55th Street bridge.

Originally, I-490 was set to open in late-May 2021. At that time, I-490 traffic would have only had access to E. 55th Street via the new quadrant roadway as the entire boulevard was not scheduled to be substantially open until early-November 2021. Concerns for pedestrian safety and traffic congestion along E. 55th St. also led the Department to delay the original opening of I-490 to the new Opportunity Corridor Blvd.

The revised opening date for I-490 at E. 55th St. will now coincide with the substantial opening of the new boulevard between E. 55th St. and E. 93rd St. on November 1, 2021.

Kokosing Construction Company, Inc. was awarded the design-build contract on the third and final section of the Opportunity Corridor with a bid amount of $150,858,250.00. Thirty million dollars under the estimated cost.

The third and final phase of the Opportunity Corridor project will connect I-490/I-77 to E. 93rd Street, where Section 2 left off. Construction highlights will include two new pedestrian bridges, three new bridges located along the boulevard, one new bridge over the boulevard, one railroad bridge over the boulevard, six signalized intersections, new water mains, new major sanitary and storm sewers, along with tree lawns, sidewalks and a shared-use path.

For a bird’s eye view of the work completed to date on section 3, check out this narrated aerial video.

With the modified closure at I-490 and E. 55th St., a new project to make necessary repairs to the driving surface of the I-490 bridge over the Cuyahoga River Valley, between W. 7th St. and Broadway Ave., has been fast tracked. By completing this work in 2021 while I-490 is still closed, reduces the impacts to traffic and improves safety for motorists and construction workers.

For more information about traffic restrictions and updates, please visit OpportunityCorridor.transportation.ohio.gov.

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The purpose of the Opportunity Corridor Project is to improve transportation and economic development in the historically underserved part of Cleveland known as the “Forgotten Triangle” located within the City of Cleveland, between I-490/I-77 and University Circle. The three-mile boulevard will provide improved access to and through the communities of Slavic Village, Central, Kinsman, Buckeye-Shaker, and Fairfax. The Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) District 12 is leading the project in partnership with the City of Cleveland.