GARFIELD HEIGHTS (Wednesday, March 23, 2011) – Safety crews with the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) have secured temporary supports under the Valley Parkway overpass over Interstate 77 southbound in Brecksville, following concerns raised late Tuesday evening. 

At approximately 9:45 a.m. ODOT reopened the SR 82 entrance ramp to I-77 southbound.

Valley Parkway over I-77 will remain closed until further notice.  Valley Parkway motorists are detoured via Brecksville, Oakes and Broadview Roads.

At approximately 7:30 a.m. ODOT engineers opened the left lane of I-77 southbound between SR 82 and the Ohio Turnpike, following the installation of a temporary support under the Valley Parkway overpass.  I-77 northbound remains open.

Overnight an ODOT engineer and the contractor working on the Valley Parkway overpass over I-77 southbound noticed a crack in a beam of the structure.  ODOT safety experts immediately closed the Valley Parkway overpass and I-77 southbound between SR 82 and the Ohio Turnpike while crews secured a temporary support to stabilize the structure. 

Crews have been performing preliminary work along four I-77 overpasses since mid-March, which includes Valley Parkway.  The $3.8 million project will replace the decks of four overpasses in the vicinity.

For statewide construction and road condition information visit us on Twitter and www.BuckeyeTraffic.org.   

###

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