CLEVELAND — It can be tricky getting on that Jennings Freeway if you’re going south on I-71, weaving in and out of lanes to make sure you hit your next exit.
ODOT is trying to fix that issue by giving drivers more room to merge with a deceleration lane.
Construction is underway to build another lane to allow drivers to get off I-71 onto the Jennings to slow down as they approach the exit. Drivers will see this work happening on the left side of the highway as well as the median.
Drivers that use I-90 or I-490 west will also notice a barrier that is under construction to eliminate more unnecessary lane changes.
"There's been kind of an issue there with folks coming from 90 east and 490 west, maybe not paying attention to the signage quite well and once they're coming down there on 71 south, they're cutting over all three lanes to get to 176 south, when in actuality that's not necessary. There is a dedicated lane for them to continue on and not have to merge over three lanes of traffic to get to 176,” said Amanda McFarland, ODOT spokesperson.
ODOT is asking drivers to pay attention to various lanes that may be shifted in the area.
The work is expected to be completed in the spring of 2021.
