View source for Interstate 271

{{short description|Highway in Ohio}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Use American English|date=April 2022}}
{{Infobox road
|state=OH
|type=I
|route=271
|alternate_name=Outerbelt East Freeway
|map={{maplink|frame=yes|plain=yes|frame-align=center|frame-width=290|frame-height=250|type=line|raw={{Wikipedia:Map data/Wikipedia KML/Interstate 271}}}}
|map_custom = yes
|spur_type=I
|spur_of=71
|length_mi=40.22
|length_ref=<ref name=DESTAPE>{{cite web |url=http://www.dot.state.oh.us/Divisions/Planning/TechServ/TIM/Pages/DESTAPE.aspx |title=DESTAPE |publisher=[[Ohio Department of Transportation]] |date=August 30, 2017 |access-date=January 21, 2018}}
*[http://www.dot.state.oh.us/Divisions/Planning/TechServ/TIM/Documents/DESTAPECnty/DESMED.pdf Medina County]
*[http://www.dot.state.oh.us/Divisions/Planning/TechServ/TIM/Documents/DESTAPECnty/DESSUM.pdf Summit County]
*[http://www.dot.state.oh.us/Divisions/Planning/TechServ/TIM/Documents/DESTAPECnty/DESCUY.pdf Cuyahoga County]
*[http://www.dot.state.oh.us/Divisions/Planning/TechServ/TIM/Documents/DESTAPECnty/DESLAK.pdf Lake County]
</ref>
|established=1964
|direction_a=South
|terminus_a={{Jct|state=OH|I|71}} in [[Medina Township, Medina County, Ohio|Medina Township]]
|junction={{Jct|state=OH|I|77|SR|21}} in [[Richfield, Ohio|Richfield]]<br>{{Jct|state=OH|I|480|SR|14}} in [[Oakwood, Cuyahoga County, Ohio|Oakwood]]<br>{{Jct|state=OH|I|480|US|422}} in [[Bedford Heights, Ohio|Bedford Heights]]
|direction_b=North
|terminus_b={{Jct|state=OH|I|90}} in [[Willoughby Hills, Ohio|Willoughby Hills]]
|counties=[[Medina County, Ohio|Medina]], [[Summit County, Ohio|Summit]], [[Cuyahoga County, Ohio|Cuyahoga]], [[Lake County, Ohio|Lake]]
|previous_type=OH 1960
|previous_route=270
|previous_dab=1928-1962
|next_type=OH 1960
|next_route=271
|next_dab=1930s-1960s
}}
'''Interstate&nbsp;271''' ('''I-271''') is an [[auxiliary Interstate Highway]] in the suburbs of [[Cleveland, Ohio|Cleveland]] and [[Akron, Ohio|Akron]] in the [[US state]] of [[Ohio]]. The highway is officially designated the '''Outerbelt East Freeway''' but is rarely referred to by that name by locals, instead simply referring to it as "271".

==Route description==
[[File:AERIAL VIEW OF THE OHIO TURNPIKE RUNNING LEFT TO RIGHT IN THE FOREGROUND. THE PARALLEL ROAD NEAREST THE COLISEUM IS... - NARA - 558055.jpg|thumb|left|Aerial view of I-271, exit&nbsp;12, its crossing of the Ohio Turnpike, and the now-defunct [[Richfield Coliseum]] in 1975]]
I-271 begins at an [[Interchange (road)|interchange]] with [[Interstate 71 in Ohio|I-71]] in [[Medina Township, Medina County, Ohio|Medina Township]] to [[Interstate 90 in Ohio|I-90]] in [[Willoughby Hills, Ohio|Willoughby Hills]], with an interchange with [[Interstate 480 (Ohio)|I-480]] (and traveling [[concurrency (road)|concurrently]] with it for a short stretch). The width varies from point to point but is mostly four to six lanes wide south of I-480 and eight to twelve lanes wide north of I-480; there, it is divided into [[local–express lanes]].

The local–express lanes begin at the southern interchange of [[U.S. Route 422 in Ohio|U.S. Route&nbsp;422]] (US&nbsp;422) and continue northward slightly beyond the end of I-271. The northbound express lanes allow access to all exits (excluding Chagrin Boulevard, Harvard Road, and [[Ohio State Route 175|State Route&nbsp;175]] (SR&nbsp;175), a southbound-only exit). The southbound express lanes bypass all exits except for one combined exit for Chagrin Boulevard (west US&nbsp;422), Harvard Road, Richmond Road (SR&nbsp;175), and US&nbsp;422 (east) interchange. The lanes then become the mainline of I-480N which in turn becomes I-480 westbound.

I-271 does not have a direct interchange with [[Interstate 80 in Ohio|I-80]]/[[Ohio Turnpike]]—one of only a few examples of Interstate Highways that cross but do not intersect. The I-271/I-480 section was the only instance of a concurrency of two three-digit Interstate Highways in the nation until 2022, when a concurrency between [[Interstate 587 (North Carolina)|I-587]] and [[Interstate 795 (North Carolina)|I-795]], and [[Interstate 840 (North Carolina)|I-840]] and [[Interstate 785|I-785]] in North Carolina was established with the designation of I-587, I-785, and I-840.<ref>{{Cite map |author=((OpenStreetMap contributors)) |date=3 January 2023 |title=United States of America |url=https://www.openstreetmap.org/relation/148838 |website=[[OpenStreetMap]] |access-date=4 January 2023}}</ref>  This is because I-80 was concurrent with I-271 until 1971, when I-80 was routed back on to the turnpike and replaced by I-480.

==History==
[[File:I-271_I-480.jpg|thumb|left|I-271/I-480 north of the [[Ohio State Route 14|Broadway]]/Forbes interchange in 2002]]
[[Interstate 290 (Ohio)|I-290]] was to have followed the northern end of I-271. I-271 itself was to have followed [[Interstate 480 (Ohio)|I-480]] and [[Interstate 480N|I-480N]] westward to I-71.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.roadfan.com/clevmap.html|title=1957-1958 Biennial Report excerpt |author=Ohio Department of Highways |access-date=2008-04-02}}{{SPS|date=January 2018}}</ref>

I-271's express lanes were added between 1993 and 1995, with related projects continuing through 1998.<ref>{{cite news |first=Pauline |last=Thoma |title=Figgie Road Work to Begin |work=[[The Plain Dealer]] |date=December 11, 1992 |page=15C }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |first=Grant |last=Segall |title=Orange Barrels Finally on the Way Out |work=The Plain Dealer |date=November 4, 1998 |page=1B }}</ref>

The I-271/SR&nbsp;8 interchange underwent reconstruction in 2008–2009 that turned it into a complete interchange allowing all movements, with free flow between I-271 to the north and SR&nbsp;8 to the south.<ref>{{cite news |first=Rick |last=Armon |title=New Route 8 Ramp Eases Congestion |url=http://infoweb.newsbank.com/iw-search/we/InfoWeb?p_action=doc&p_topdoc=1&p_docnum=1&p_sort=YMD_date:D&p_product=NewsBank&p_text_direct-0=document_id=(%20129CAF791B1194A8%20)&p_docid=129CAF791B1194A8&p_theme=aggregated5&p_queryname=129CAF791B1194A8&f_openurl=yes&p_nbid=T6DA5FFVMTI1Mzc0NTkyNC40MTcwNjk6MToxMjoxOTguMzAuMjI4LjA&&p_multi=ABJB |work=[[Akron Beacon Journal]] |date=2009-07-30 |access-date=2009-09-23 }}</ref>

===I-271 rebuilding and widening program===
{{update section|date=March 2020}}
The need for the I-271 widening project between Miles Road and the [[Summit County, Ohio|Summit County]] line was identified in March 2002. I-271 will be widened from two to three lanes north and southbound between Miles Road and Columbus Road and from three to five lanes north and southbound between Columbus Road and the I-271/I-480 split near the Summit County line. Construction will last two years and includes replacement of the existing pavement, noise walls, lighting, and signing. A similar project to widen I-271 from two to three lanes will be constructed in Summit County between the Cuyahoga County line and SR&nbsp;8 and will improve access to the Ohio Turnpike. That project is scheduled to begin in 2014 and be complete in 2016.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dot.state.oh.us/districts/D12/Deputy%20Director/News/Pages/Commuters-on-I-271-Get-Congestion-Relief-with-Widening-Project.aspx|title=Commuters on I-271 Get Congestion Relief with Widening Project|publisher=[[Ohio Department of Transportation]]|access-date=5 October 2014}}</ref>

==Exit list==
{{jcttop|exit|length_ref=<ref name=DESTAPE/>}}
{{OHint|exit
|type=incomplete
|county=Medina
|cspan=2
|location=Medina Township
|ctdab=Medina
|lspan=2
|mile=0.00
|exit=1
|road={{Jct|state=OH|I|71|dir1=south|city1=Columbus}}
|notes=No access to I-71 north or from I-71 south; exit 220 on I-71
}}
{{OHint|exit
|mile=3.29
|mile2=3.69
|exit=3
|road={{Jct|state=OH|SR|94|name1=Ridge Road|to2=yes|I|71|dir2=north|city1=Wadsworth|city2=North Royalton|location3=[[w:Cleveland|Cleveland]]}}
}}
{{OHint|exit
|county=Summit
|cspan=6
|location=Richfield
|lspan=2
|mile=7.46
|mile2=7.88
|place=Rest Area
}}
{{OHint|exit
|mile=9.38
|exit=9
|type=incomplete
|road=[[File:OH-176.svg|25px|link=]][[File:I-77.svg|20px|link=]] Brecksville Road to {{jct|state=OH|SR|176|I|77|dir2=south|noshield1=yes|noshield2=yes|city=Richfield}}
|notes=Northbound exit and southbound entrance
}}
{{OHint|exit
|location=Richfield Township
|ctdab=Summit
|lspan=2
|mile=9.90
|mile2=10.36
|exit=10
|type=incomplete
|road={{Jct|state=OH|I|77|to2=yes|I|80|OHTP||city1=Cleveland|city2=Akron}}
|notes=Same-directional movements only
}}
{{OHint|exit
|mile=12.38
|mile2=12.57
|exit=12
|road={{Jct|state=OH|SR|303|name1=Streetsboro Road|city1=Richfield|city2=Peninsula}}
}}
{{OHint|exit
|location=Macedonia
|lspan=2
|mile=18.13
|mile2=18.64
|exit=18
|road={{Jct|state=OH|SR|8|to2=to|SR|82|city1=Macedonia|city2=Northfield|city3=Boston Heights|city4=Akron}}
|notes=Signed as exit 18A (south) and exit 18B (north) southbound; no southbound signage for SR 82
}}
{{OHint|exit
|mile=19.44
|exit=19
|type=incomplete
|road={{Jct|state=OH|SR|82|name1=East Aurora Road|city1=Macedonia|city2=Twinsburg}}
|notes=Northbound exit is via exit 18
}}
{{OHint|exit
|county=Cuyahoga
|cspan=20
|location=Oakwood
|ctdab= Cuyahoga
|mile=
|mile2=
|exit=21 & 23
|type=incomplete
|road={{Jct|state=OH|I|480|dir1=west|SR|14|name2=Broadway Avenue|road|Forbes Road}}
|notes=Northbound exit; southbound entrance is exit 22 on I 480 east
}}
{{OHint|exit
|lspan=2
|location=Bedford
|mspan=2
|mile=
|mile2=
|exit=23A
|type=concur
|road={{Jct|state=OH|I|480|SR|14|dir1=east|dir2=east|city1=Youngstown|city2=Streetsboro}}
|notes=Southern terminus of I-480 concurrency; southbound exit and northbound entrance
}}
{{OHint|exit
|mile=none
|exit=23B
|type=
|road={{Jct|state=OH|SR|14|dir1=west|name1=Broadway Avenue|road|Forbes Road}}
|notes=Technically exit 23B on I-480 east
}}
{{OHint|exit
|location=Bedford Heights
|lspan=7
|mile=25.35
|mile2=25.40
|exit=26A
|type=concur
|road={{Jct|state=OH|I|480|dir1=west|city1=Cleveland|extra=airport}}
|notes=Northern terminus of I-480 concurrency; northbound exit and southbound entrance
}}
{{OHint|exit
|type=incomplete
|mile=26.07
|mile2=26.26
|exit=26B
|road=Rockside Road – [[w:Bedford Heights, Ohio|Bedford Heights]]
|notes=Signed as exit 26 southbound
}}
{{OHint|exit
|mile=26.80
|mile2=27.94
|exit=27A
|type=concur
|road={{Jct|state=OH|US|422|dir1=east|city1=Warren}}
|notes=Southern terminus of US 422 concurrency; exit 13B on US 422
}}
{{OHint|exit
|mile=27.38
|mile2=27.94
|mspan=2
|exit=27B
|espan=2
|type=incomplete
|road=Miles Road – [[w:Bedford Heights, Ohio|Bedford Heights]], [[w:North Randall, Ohio|North Randall]]
|notes=Northbound exit and southbound entrance
}}
{{OHint
|mile=none
|type=incomplete
|road={{Jct|state=OH|I|480|dir1=west|city1=Toledo|extra=airport}}
|notes=Southbound exit and northbound entrance; access via unsigned I-480N
}}
{{OHint|exit
|mile=27.6
|exit=—
|type=incomplete
|road={{jct|state=OH|I|271|nolink1=yes|dir1=north|to2=to|I|90|name1=Express Lanes|location1=[[w:Erie, Pennsylvania|Erie Pa.]]}}
|notes=Northbound exit and southbound entrance; south end of Express Lanes
}}
{{OHint|exit
|mile=28.25
|mile2=28.38
|exit=28A
|type=incomplete
|road={{Jct|state=OH|SR|175|name1=Richmond Road|road|Emery Road}}
|notes=Southbound exit and northbound entrance; other movements via exit 27B
}}
{{OHint|exit
|location=Orange
|mile=28.61
|mile2=29.23
|exit=28B
|road=Harvard Road – [[w:Highland Hills, Ohio|Highland Hills]], [[w:Orange, Ohio|Orange]]
}}
{{OHint|exit
|location=Beachwood
|lspan=3
|mile=29.62
|mile2=30.22
|exit=29
|type=concur
|road={{Jct|state=OH|US|422|dir1=west|SR|87|name2=Chagrin Boulevard}}
|notes=Northern terminus of US 422 concurrency
}}
{{OHint|exit
|type=incomplete
|mile=31.2
|exit=—
|road={{jct|state=OH|I|271|nolink1=yes|dir1=north|to2=to|I|90|name1=Express Lanes}}
|notes=Northbound exit and southbound entrance
}}
{{OHint|exit
|type=incomplete
|mile=31.8
|exit=—
|road={{jct|state=OH|I|271|nolink1=yes|dir1=south|to2=to|I|480|name1=Express Lanes}}
|notes=Southbound exit and northbound entrance
}}
{{OHint|exit
|location=Lyndhurst
|mile=32.42
|mile2=33.26
|exit=32
|road=Cedar Road&nbsp;/ Brainard Road
}}
{{OHint|exit
|type=incomplete
|location=Mayfield&nbsp;Heights
|lspan=2
|mile=33.2
|exit=—
|road={{jct|state=OH|I|271|nolink1=yes|dir1=south|to2=to|I|480|name1=Express Lanes}}
|notes=Southbound exit and northbound entrance
}}
{{OHint|exit
|mile=34.55
|mile2=35.45
|exit=34
|road={{Jct|state=OH|US|322|name1=Mayfield Road|city1=Gates Mills|city2=Mayfield Heights}}
}}
{{OHint|exit
|location=Highland Heights
|mile=36.06
|mile2=36.52
|exit=36
|road=Wilson Mills Road
|notes=}}
{{OHint|exit
|type=incomplete
|location1=Highland Heights
|location2=Mayfield
|lspan=2
|mile=37.6
|exit=—
|road={{jct|state=OH|I|90|dir1=east|location1=[[w:Erie, Pennsylvania|Erie, PA]]}}
|notes=Northbound exit and southbound entrance; exit 190 on I-90
}}
{{OHint|exit
|type=incomplete
|mile=37.8
|exit=—
|road={{jct|state=OH|I|271|nolink1=yes|dir1=south|to2=to|I|480|name1=Express Lanes}}
|notes=Southbound exit and northbound entrance
}}
{{OHint|exit
|county=Lake
|location=Willoughby Hills
|mile=36.59
|mile2=40.22
|exit=40
|road={{Jct|state=OH|I|90|SR|91|to2=yes|city1=Cleveland|location2=[[w:Erie, Pennsylvania|Erie, PA]]}}
|notes=Northern Terminus of I-271, signed as Exit 40A (I-90 West) and 40B (I-90 East), Exit 188 on I-90
}}
{{Jctbtm|exit|keys=concur,incomplete}}

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==External links==
{{Attached KML|display=title,inline}}
*{{commons category-inline|Interstate 271}}

{{3di|71}}

[[Category:Auxiliary Interstate Highways|71-2]]
[[Category:Interstate Highways in Ohio|71-2]]
[[Category:Cleveland area expressways]]
[[Category:Transportation in Medina County, Ohio]]
[[Category:Transportation in Summit County, Ohio]]
[[Category:Transportation in Cuyahoga County, Ohio]]
[[Category:Transportation in Lake County, Ohio]]
[[Category:Interstate 71|2]]
[[Category:Beltways in the United States|271]]