Cleveland commuters are bracing for six years of major traffic disruptions as a $328 million overhaul of the critical Innerbelt interchange begins this week, while the city's Cavaliers basketball team suffered a 130-120 home loss to the Dallas Mavericks on Sunday afternoon.

Innerbelt Overhaul Kicks Off

Motorists traveling through downtown Cleveland will encounter initial lane restrictions starting Wednesday as the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) launches a massive rebuilding project on the central interchange of Interstates 90 and 77. This marks the early stages of a six-year effort to modernize a crucial highway and bridge network that sees approximately 144,000 drivers daily.

The $328 million project targets the stretch from Ontario Street to Carnegie Avenue. Some of these bridges? They're from the 1960s. ODOT spokesperson Brent Kovacs acknowledged the significant inconvenience ahead for drivers.

“Anytime we have construction, it’s going to be an inconvenience,” Kovacs said. “It will be a little slower to get from one side of town to the other side of town.” He added that the initial days of new restrictions often prove the most challenging, with traffic patterns typically stabilizing after about two weeks.

The highways will stay open during rush hour, but expect lane shifts and closures otherwise. Brief closures, however, are expected during off-peak times. This week's immediate traffic changes will affect East 14th Street, specifically from the I-77 north exit ramp to Orange Avenue, following some minor restrictions earlier this winter.

The real headaches come later this year. Weekend I-90 closures—one direction at a time—will let crews tear down bridges. Specific bridges targeted for removal in 2026 include the Cedar Road bridge over I-90 and the Community College Avenue bridge over East 14th Street. Additionally, reconstruction will begin on the bridge connecting I-90 west to I-77 south, alongside extensive pavement work on I-90, I-77, East 14th Street, East 22nd Street, Carnegie Avenue, Cedar Avenue, Central Avenue, and Community College Avenue.

By 2027, crews will tackle more major work. That year brings reconstruction of the East 22nd Street and Carnegie Avenue bridges over I-90, plus more work on the I-90 west to I-77 south connector. The whole project modernizes the highway network, which should improve traffic flow and make driving safer.

Downtown's layout will change permanently. Community College Avenue will permanently close between East 14th and East 22nd streets, and the Cedar Avenue bridge over I-90 will be removed permanently. The whole thing wraps up in 2032 with final pavement work.

Cavaliers Drop Home Game to Mavericks

On the sports front, the Cleveland Cavaliers couldn't hold off the Dallas Mavericks, falling 130-120 at home on Sunday. The Mavericks, who had suffered a crushing 33-point defeat to Cleveland just two days prior, bounced back decisively, snapping a seven-game losing streak against the Cavaliers.

Cooper Flagg, the 2025 top overall pick, led Dallas with 27 points, 10 assists, and six rebounds on 10-of-17 shooting in 33 minutes. That marked his 12th game this season with 27+ points. Naji Marshall added 25 points, and P.J. Washington contributed 20 points and 11 rebounds for the Mavericks, who earned only their second win in 11 games.

Donovan Mitchell led Cleveland with 26 points. Max Strus returned from injury, scoring 24 points in his season debut. The seventh-year forward sat out the first 67 games with a broken left foot from offseason training. He had surgery August 26 for a Jones fracture—that's the bone connecting your pinky toe to the foot.

The first half had 11 lead changes and seven ties before Dallas took a 60-59 halftime lead. Dallas opened the third quarter with a 7-0 run and pushed the lead to 78-67 on a Nembhard three. Cleveland got within seven, but Dallas answered with a 10-2 run and led by 21 in the fourth before Cleveland made a late push.

Rookie John Poulakidas, signed to a two-way deal on March 1, also contributed. In his second NBA game, the Yale product scored 10 points, with eight of those coming in the third quarter.

Upcoming Schedule

The Cavaliers will look to rebound from the loss when they travel to Milwaukee for a game on Tuesday. Meanwhile, the Mavericks continue their road trip, heading to New Orleans for a Monday matchup.

The Innerbelt work continues through spring with more phases planned for I-90, I-77, and connecting streets, finishing in 2032.

The six-year Innerbelt project will reshape downtown Cleveland's roads while trying to improve safety and traffic flow.