The 2026 Spring Road Construction Guide for Stow, Hudson, and Ravenna

NORTHEAST OHIO — With major infrastructure overhauls scheduled to hit local highways starting in early March, commuters are already looking for alternative routes. However, drivers looking to bypass the congestion by cutting through neighboring communities need to be prepared: Stow, Hudson, and Ravenna are all gearing up for their own heavy spring construction seasons. Whether you are heading north toward the Turnpike or east into Portage County, here is what you need to know about the regional traffic landscape for Spring 2026. Stow: The Crossroads Mega-Projects Continue Stow’s massive, multi-phase infrastructure improvements are waking back up after the winter freeze, heavily impacting the city's main arteries. State Route 91 (Darrow Road) Reconstruction: Karvo Construction is continuing its heavy lifting on "Segment 2" of the Darrow Road project, specifically between Ritchie Road and Norton Road. Crews are currently removing curbs and catch basins, relocating hydrants, and installing retaining walls (specifically near Powers Brook, north of Hibbard). Drivers should expect shifting lane patterns and heavy equipment moving along the shoulders. State Route 59 (Kent Road) Signal Upgrades: As the weather breaks, crews are moving back in to install brand-new pedestrian push-button poles and upgraded signal controllers at major intersections, including Sycamore Drive, Darrow Road, and Orchard Drive. Related: 2026 Spring Road Construction Guide: Stow, Hudson, and Ravenna Impacts Hudson: Sidewalks, Trails, and Paving Hudson is heavily focused on pedestrian connectivity and stormwater management this season, meaning drivers will encounter shoulder work, lane closures, and heavy machinery near the roadways. Ravenna Street Sidewalk Project: This project officially broke ground the week of February 23. Geauga Highway Co. is installing concrete sidewalks, making stormwater improvements, and performing grading along the north side of Ravenna Street from S. Hayden Parkway to Stow Road. This project is slated to last until early August 2026. Boston Mills & Lake Forest Drive: A major multi-use path project is slated for this spring, which includes realigning a portion of Lake Forest Drive and building out a 10-foot wide path along Boston Mills Road (complete with timber boardwalks and a bridge). Ravenna & Portage County Impacts Ravenna and the surrounding Portage County areas are seeing millions of dollars injected into underground utility and surface paving projects. 2026 Ravenna Paving Program: The City of Ravenna has opened bids for a massive $1.5 million infrastructure project that goes far beyond surface paving. Work across the city will include asphalt planing, deep road base repairs, concrete intersection replacements, and the installation of new underground storm and sanitary structures. Portage County Culvert Replacements: ODOT District 4 is launching a wide-reaching culvert preservation program across Portage and Summit counties. Drivers on rural routes should be on high alert for sudden 14-day to 30-day hard closures as ODOT trenches across roadways to replace aging drainage pipes. The Bottom Line for Commuters: Flexibility will be your best asset this year. With major SR 14 and SR 43 intersections getting ripped up, and Stow’s SR 91 corridor under heavy construction, north-south travel through Portage and Summit counties is going to require extra time and a lot of patience.