Two weeks of work to be completed in 27 hours

GARFIELD HEIGHTS (Tuesday, August 2, 2011) – The Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) and Karvo Paving Company will close Interstate 77 northbound between I-480 and I-490 in the cities of Cuyahoga Heights, Newburgh Heights and Cleveland on Friday, August 5 at 7 p.m. through 10 p.m. on Saturday, August 6 in order to perform major paving operations.

The final surface course of asphalt will be placed on the five mile stretch of I-77 northbound in just 27 hours.  The contractor will utilize multiple paving and roller machines along with hundreds of trucks to haul in the more than 11,000 tons of asphalt to complete the work.  If only nightly lane closures had been utilized to complete the final surface course it could have taken up to two weeks to complete the work. 

Crews will close I-77 northbound at I-480 and all entrance ramps to I-77 northbound between I-480 and I-490.  Motorists will be detoured via I-480 westbound to SR 176 northbound to I-490 eastbound to access I-77.  Detours will be posted and law enforcement officers will assist in directing motorists.

Motorists attending events at Jacobs Pavilion and Quicken Loans Arena on Friday and Saturday evenings should be advised to utilize the alternate routes.

ODOT will be utilizing the new Intelligent Transportation System dynamic message signs to notify and direct motorists around the construction throughout the weekend.  Motorists can view dynamic message signs, traffic cameras and traffic speeds at www.BuckeyeTraffic.org before they hit the road to see how traffic is flowing.

In the coming weeks crews will perform a similar operation on I-77 southbound between I-490 and I-480.

The $9.3 million project resurfaces I-77 north and southbound between I-490 and Rockside Road in the cities of Independence, Cuyahoga Heights, Newburgh Heights and Cleveland and is scheduled to be complete in October 2011.

All work is weather permitting and will be rescheduled if necessary.

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For more information contact:
The ODOT District 12 Communications Office at (216) 584-2005