#PROJECTS: Big Creek Storage Tunnel (BCT)

The Big Creek Tunnel (BCT) project is part of Project Clean Lake, a $3 billion, 24-year program the Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District began in 2011 to meet Clean Water Act standards. BCT is our last of seven large-diameter combined sewer overflow (CSO) storage tunnel that, along with other projects, will reduce 4.5 billion gallons of CSO released into Lake Erie and other local waterways in the Greater Cleveland area.

The BCT includes more than four miles of 20-foot diameter tunnel, built in rock, 50 to 100 feet beneath Cleveland, Linndale, and Brooklyn. The tunnel system will capture and store a combination of sanitary sewage and stormwater from 11 CSO outfalls. BCT will reduce combined sewer overflows to Big Creek and its tributaries by 550 million gallons a year.

Project schedule

Design began in 2024 and finished in early 2026. Construction is currently expected to begin in late 2026 and continue into 2031.

Cost and bidding

Our engineers’ estimate is $300 million. Sign up to receive notifications when we post projects for bidding: procurement.opengov.com

Length and sizes

The Big Creek Storage Tunnel (BCT) will be 22,300 feet long and 20 feet in diameter.

Benefits

The project will reduce CSO volumes discharged into Big Creek and its tributaries by over 550 million gallons annually and decrease flooding.

Traffic impacts

While the Big Creek Tunnel construction will feature seven shaft locations, as noted in the project map, with work visible at the surface. But the project will largely consist of trenchless construction via tunnel boring machine.

Most construction is not in the public right-of-way. However, there are four areas that will see traffic impacts:

• Emery Park in Cleveland (BCT-6)
  A traffic signal will be added to the existing signal at West 130th St. and Emery Ave. The basketball courts at Emery Park will not be affected by the tunnel construction, although some trees will be removed north of the courts. This site will see extended work hours.
• SE Corner of Ridge Rd. & Memphis Ave., Brooklyn (BCT-4)
  Traffic on Ridge Rd. will be limited to one lane in each direction for approximately nine months during construction. Work at this site will begin Q4 2027.
• SW Corner of West 37th St. and Memphis Ave., Cleveland (BCT-2)
  For a period after July 2027, West 37th St. will be closed between Memphis Ave. and Stanford Ave.
• SW Corner of West 24th St. and Henninger Rd., Cleveland (BCT-1)
  There will be a lane closed on Henninger Rd.

All traffic impacts will be marked by the contractor with signage and detours as needed. Updated August 5, 2026.

Fact sheet

A printable set of fact sheets about the Big Creek Tunnel project are available for download. Updated August 11, 2026.