COLUMBUS, Ohio – Motorists on the North Side will see a big change coming this week.
A new ramp configuration will be in place at the I-270 and Cleveland Avenue interchange starting Thursday.
The new design uses one ramp and a traffic signal for access to north- and southbound Cleveland Avenue from eastbound I-270.
The new ramp configuration eliminates a tight merge at the interchange.
The reconfiguration of the ramps from northbound Cleveland Avenue to I-270 East and West will be complete by Thanksgiving and, next year, crews will raise and replace the Cleveland Avenue bridges over the interstate, ODOT spokeswoman Nancy Burton says.
The $9.3 million project is expected to be complete late next fall.
ODOT officials say drivers should watch signs carefully and drive with extra caution as they become accustomed to the new pattern:
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 29
10:00 p.m.: I-270 East mainline will be closed between I-71 and Cleveland Avenue. Traffic should stay right and use ramp lane to continue straight on I-270 east.
The ramp from I-71 north to I-270 east will close. The detour is Polaris Parkway to I-71 south to I-270 east.
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 30
5:00 a.m.: All four lanes of I-270 East will be open but shifted to the left so the construction crews can work in the area between I-270 and the exit ramp.
The following ramps will reopen: I-71 north to I-270 east, Cleveland Avenue north and south to I-270 east and the new ramp from I-270 east to Cleveland Avenue.