The closure of the westbound ramp to North Olmsted begins on Tuesday

Drivers using the westbound ramp near the Great Northern Mall should expect significant traffic delays starting Tuesday.

The ramp will be closed for approximately four weeks due to bridge repair work as part of the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT)’s $6.4 million project to repair seven bridges in Cuyahoga County.

The city wanted to get all the work done quickly, so we’re shutting it down completely instead of just working on it on weekends or during certain hours.

Max Upton, North Olmsted’s director of economic and community development, says, “We thought it would be best to do everything at once to minimize disruption to our business community, especially the retail and service sectors, which generate a large portion of their revenue over the weekend.”

Motorists are asked to consider two diversion options:

1. Continue west on I-480 to the Stearns Road exit, then merge onto I-480 east and take the eastbound exit at Great Northern.

2. Take the Clague Road exit and follow Clague Road to Brookpark Road to Great Northern.

Local business owners are concerned about the potential impact on customer traffic. Preet Dhaliwal, who owns a store in the Great Northern Mall, expressed his concern: “Let’s see how it goes. I don’t want it to be ruined, but if they block it, it will obviously stop some people from coming in because some people go there, some go to the left.”

Residents are also concerned about the increased traffic. “I think this is going to make traffic in our area a lot worse. We use the road a lot. I think it’s going to be tough,” said Kristina Monticue, a resident.

Despite the inconvenience, the project promises long-term benefits. When completed, North Olmsted will not only have a freshly repaired bridge, but also new signage welcoming people to the area.

Motorists should plan for longer travel times and expect additional traffic, as all diversions must be followed during the construction period.

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