Orange barrel season is coming to Portage and Summit counties. Officials say drivers should expect delays, shifting traffic patterns and stepped-up enforcement – and should put down the phone while driving on state highways.
Ohio Department of Transportation officials discussed the local projects, detours and delays during a late March District 4 construction kickoff event in Youngstown. District 4 includes Summit, Portage, Stark, Mahoning, Trumbull and Ashtabula counties.
“The work we do is essential, but it also carries real risks both for our crews, the construction industry and for the traveling public. As we head into another busy construction year, our commitment is simple and unwavering. Every worker goes home safely at the end of every shift,” said Gery Noirot, deputy director for District 4. “That requires vigilance, clear communication and strict adherence to our work zone practices.”
The Ohio Department of Transportation will work on 11 projects in Portage County and 14 in Summit County during the 2026 construction season, ranging from repaving to major bridge work.
In Summit County, work continues on two of the region’s largest projects. The Interstate 77 widening project between Ghent Road and Everett Road is continuing, with crews reconstructing outside lanes. When complete, the corridor will have three lanes of traffic in each direction.
The $158 million state Route 8 bridge replacement in Akron is also moving forward. Traffic has already shifted onto one of the new spans, and crews are now demolishing the old bridge before starting work on the new northbound span. This project won’t be completed until 2028.
In Portage County, a $6.1 million project at the state Routes 14, 43 and 303 intersection in Streetsboro began in March. The work includes repaving, signal upgrades and intersection improvements.
A $5.7 million repaving project on Interstate 76, from New Milford Road to just east of state Route 14, is continuing this year and is expected to be completed in August. Work is also being completed on a separate project along I-76 in Mahoning County this year.
State officials said drivers could use GPS apps, like Waze, or the state’s OHGO app, for up-to-date traffic information and detours.
Safety
ODOT officials and state troopers urged drivers to slow down and stay alert in work zones. Ohio State Highway Patrol recorded hundreds of work zone incidents in recent years across Summit and Portage counties.
In Portage County, troopers recorded 232 work zone crashes between 2021 and 2025, including one fatal crash and 83 injuries.
Summit County saw 2,987 work zone crashes over the same period, including five fatalities and 939 injuries.
Citations have also increased. In Portage County, troopers issued 448 construction zone citations in 2025, up sharply from 99 the year before. Of those, more than half -- 292 -- were for drivers traveling 20 mph or more over the speed limit.
In Summit County, troopers issued 707 citations in 2025, including nearly 60 percent (421) for speeding 20 mph or more over the limit.
Lt. Benjamin Dennison of the Ohio State Highway Patrol said those numbers reflect driver behavior that can be changed.
“Speeding and following too closely remain the leading contributors to the work zone crashes,” Dennison said.
Dennison said enforcement alone is not enough to reduce those crashes.
“Every driver who enters a work zone has the power to prevent the next crash, the next injury or the next fatality,” he said. “Our message today is simple and direct. Slow down, buckle up and eliminate all distractions.”
ODOT officials echoed that message as construction ramps up across the region.
“Not only is distracted driving illegal, but it’s simply not safe,” said Ray Marsch, public information officer for ODOT District 4. “Help keep roadside workers safe by putting down the distractions when driving.”
Project list
PORTAGE COUNTY (Most to least expensive)
Suffield, Randolph and Atwater townships
U.S. Route 224 Resurfacing
Cost: $15.4 million
U.S. Route 224 from the Summit County line to state Route 183 will be repaved, with repairs to several bridges. Parts of U.S. 224 will be closed for up to 90 days, with more short-term closures on intersecting roads. Detours will be posted. The project will run from June 2026 to October 2027.
Rootstown, Edinburg, Suffield, Randolph and Atwater townships
Interstate 76 Resurfacing
Cost: $5.7 million
Interstate 76 from New Milford Road to just east of state Route 14 will be repaved. The project includes repairs to 10 bridges. Nightly and weekend ramp closures are expected, with Alliance Road and Porter Road closed for 14 days and New Milford and Hattrick roads closed for 60 days. The project will run from October 2025 to August 2026.
Streetsboro
State Routes 14 and 43 Resurfacing and Intersection Work
Cost: $6.1 million
State Route 14 and state Route 43 will be repaved, with intersection improvements at state Route 303 and Branch Road. Turn lane restrictions and closures are expected. The project will run from March to December 2026.
Hiram, Nelson and surrounding townships
State Routes 82 and 88 Resurfacing
Cost: $4.3 million
State Route 82 and state Route 88 will be repaved, with a bridge replacement on state Route 700 over Eagle Creek and additional bridge repairs. State Route 700 will be closed for 14 days. The project will run from April to September 2026.
Aurora
State Routes 82 and 306 Resurfacing
Cost: $2.5 million
State Route 82 and state Route 306 will be repaved, with minor bridge repairs included. No closures are expected. The project will run from May to September 2026.
Hiram, Shalersville and Freedom townships
State Routes 303 and 305 Chip Seal
Cost: $1.4 million
State Route 303 and state Route 305 will be chip sealed, with additional work in surrounding counties. Traffic will be maintained. The project will run from April to August 2026.
Streetsboro
State Route 303 Turn Lane Improvements
Cost: $1.3 million
Turn lanes will be added at state Route 303 and Diagonal Road. The intersection will be closed for 30 days. The project will run from July to October 2026.
Nelson Township
State Route 305 Bridge Replacement
Cost: $1.2 million
A bridge on state Route 305 just east of Mills Road will be replaced. The road will be closed for up to 45 days. The project will run from April to July 2026.
Kent and Freedom Township
State Route 261 Resurfacing
Cost: $1.1 million
State Route 261 will be repaved from Summit Road to state Route 59. Traffic will be maintained. The project will run from June to September 2026.
Nelson and Palmyra townships
U.S. Route 422 and State Route 225 Culvert Replacements
Cost: $1.1 million
Culverts will be replaced on U.S. Route 422 and state Route 225. Both routes will be closed for 14 days. The project will run from July to September 2026.
Randolph and Windham townships
U.S. Route 224 Bridge Replacement
Cost: $900,000
A bridge on U.S. Route 224 just east of state Route 44 will be replaced, along with bridge repairs on state Route 303. U.S. 224 will be closed for 21 days and state Route 303 for 14 days. The project will run from July to November 2026.
SUMMIT COUNTY (Most to least expensive)
Akron
State Route 8 Bridge Replacement
Cost: $158 million
The high-level bridge on state Route 8 over the Cuyahoga River is being replaced, along with roadway realignment and additional lanes. There will be long-term ramp closures. The project will run through June 2028.
Bath and Richfield townships
Interstate 77 Widening
Cost: $56.7 million
Interstate 77 will be widened from four to six lanes between Everett Road and Ghent Road. Ramp work and bridge reconstruction are included. Traffic will be maintained, with lane restrictions and ramp closures expected. The project will run through September 2027.
Akron and Coventry Township
Interstate 277 Bridge Deck Replacement
Cost: $13.3 million
Bridge decks on Interstate 277 will be replaced, along with culvert work and repaving. Closures are not expected. The project will run from April 2026 to October 2027.
Hudson and Twinsburg Township
Interstate 480 Bridge Deck Replacement and Resurfacing
Cost: $6.8 million
Bridge decks on Interstate 480 will be replaced, along with repaving work. Stow Road under I-480 will be closed during construction. The project will run from March to November.
Akron
Interstate 77 Noise Wall Construction
Cost: $6.8 million
Noise walls will be installed along Interstate 77 between Waterloo Road and Lovers Lane. Traffic will be maintained with short-term ramp closures. The project will wrap up in July.
Akron
State Route 261 Bridge Repairs
Cost: $4.3 million
Bridge repairs will be made on the All-American Bridge. Closures will occur in phases, with detours posted. The project will run through July.
Sagamore Hills Township
State Route 82 Bridge Repairs
Cost: $4.2 million
Bridge repairs will be made on state Route 82 over the Cuyahoga River. Traffic will be maintained. The project will run through July.
Akron and Norton
State Route 261 Resurfacing
Cost: $3.8 million
State Route 261 will be repaved from the Medina County line through Akron and Norton. Traffic will be maintained. The project will run from May to September.
Macedonia
Highland Road and Valley View Road Intersection Improvements
Cost: $3.2 million
Turn lanes will be added and signals installed at Highland Road and Valley View Road. Shepard Road will be closed for 21 days. The project will wrap up in November.
Norton
State Route 21 Bridge Replacement
Cost: $2.7 million
A bridge on state Route 21 over Johnson Road will be replaced. Johnson Road will be closed for 60 days. The project will run from October 2026 to December 2027.
Munroe Falls
State Route 91 Bridge Replacement
Cost: $2.1 million
A bridge on state Route 91 over the Cuyahoga River will be replaced. The route will be closed for 60 days. The project will run from June to August.
Richfield
State Route 21 Resurfacing
Cost: $1.3 million
State Route 21 will be repaved between Interstate 77 and the Cuyahoga County line. Detours are not expected. The project will run from April to November.
Richfield Township
State Routes 176 and 303 Culvert Replacements
Cost: $1.1 million
Culverts will be replaced on state Route 176 and state Route 303. State Route 176 will be closed for 14 days and state Route 303 will be closed for 14 days. All detours will be posted. The project will run from July 2026 to November 2027.
Mogadore and Springfield Township
State Route 532 Signal and Culvert Project
Cost: $400,000
A traffic signal will be installed at state Route 532 and Albrecht Road, along with culvert replacement. Traffic will be maintained. The project will run from September 2026 to June 2027.
Amanda Smith