CLEVELAND, Ohio - Five years after a major replacement project began that involved demolition of the bridge carrying traffic into downtown on I-90, the George V. Voinovich Bridge - known as the Inner Belt Bridge - is ready to fully reopen.

The bridge project has been completed in stages, with first the westbound and then the eastbound span being replaced. And during that time, traffic in and out of the city has been restricted, funneling into downtown at first entirely on the westbound bridge, then expanded in part to the eastbound side as the project neared completion.

By Monday, Oct. 17, all five lanes of the westbound bridge will reopen to traffic, and by Oct. 24, all five lanes of the eastbound bridge will be accessible. It will be the first time in five years that traffic on I-90 will be able to flow freely into downtown.

But, eager as the Ohio Department of Transportation crews are to finally remove the orange barrels, they will be doing so strategically.

To open additional lanes, ODOT first has to close lanes so that crews can remove alternate routes and change traffic patterns. However, there are trying to plan those closures around the Cleveland Indians playoff run to have as little impact on downtown traffic as possible.

At 7 p.m. today (Friday), I-90 west will close at I-77. Drivers will be able to access I-90 west from East 9

One hour before Game 2 ends Saturday, access to I-90 west from East 9

Two hours after Game 2 ends, I-90 west over the bridge will be closed until 6 a.m. Monday, Oct. 17.

ODOT encourages drivers to use I-77 and I-490 while I-90 over the bridge is closed.

By Monday, all five westbound lanes on the bridge will be open: three I-90 lanes, as well as one lane from both East 9th and Ontario streets. At that point, the ramp from I-90 west to I-77 south will return to one lane.

During the week of Oct. 17, there will be overnight lane closures from 7 p.m. to 6 a.m. while crews change overhead signs. All work will be weather dependent.

On Oct. 17, crews will be on I-71 north between Denison Avenue and I-490.

On Oct. 18 and Oct. 19, crews will be on Ohio 176 north between I-480 and West 14th Street.

On Oct. 19 through Oct. 21, crews will be on I-90 east between Lorain Avenue and I-490.

During the Oct. 21 weekend, ODOT will close: I-90 east at I-490; access to I-90 east from West 41st Street; access to West 25th Street from I-90 east; and I-90 east access to I-71 south and Ohio 176. The exact times of the closures will depend on the Indians playoff schedule.

By 6 a.m. Oct. 24, all five eastbound lanes on the bridge will be open: two I-90 east lanes, two I-71 north lanes and a lane from Ohio 176. At that time, the West 14th St. entrance ramp to I-90 east will reopen; the ramp from I-77 north to I-90 east will return to one lane; and access from I-90 east to Carnegie Avenue will be restored.

Once all lanes are reopened, additional painting and lighting work still will need to be finished before the bridge project is complete.