LOCAL

Here's where ODOT will spend nearly $1B on new 2023 construction work in central Ohio

Monroe Trombly
The Columbus Dispatch
  • ODOT plans to spend $2.5 billion on more than 1,000 projects statewide this year.
  • In the state agency's central Ohio region, $985 million is being spent on both existing and new projects.
  • A notable project includes expanding the I-70/State Route 29 interchange in Madison County.

Widening Interstate 71 in Madison and Pickaway counties, improving the I-270 and I-70 interchange east of Columbus and widening U.S. 36 and State Route 37 under the railroad bridge on the east side of Delaware are among the Ohio Department of Transportation projects planned for this year.

The projects were outlined during a morning news conference held in a parking lot off I-70 near the interchange with State Route 29 in Madison County, where plans call for constructing a new bridge on State Route 29 over I-70, constructing a new two-lane roundabout at the eastbound ramps and converting the existing roundabout at the westbound ramps to two lanes.

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One third of the cost to improve the interchange came from local and private sources, which ODOT District 6 Deputy Director Anthony Turowski said is rare. "Typically, these projects are funded by federal dollars matched by state dollars," he said.

As another truck rolls by his news conference, Toni Turowski of The Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) District Six announces upcoming projects and traffic impacts for the central Ohio region. ODOT held the news conference alongside Rt. 29 near a new roundabout with Interstate 70 in Madison County.

"This project is a great example of a rural investment that will further support jobs and better connect western Ohio to the capital city."

$2.5 billion in projects across Ohio

ODOT this year plans to spend $2.5 billion on more than 1,000 projects statewide.

In the state agency's central Ohio region, which includes Franklin, and 13 other counties, 128 projects are either underway or set to start, at a cost of $985 million. That includes 52 pavement projects, 31 bridge projects, 15 safety improvements and seven major reconstruction projects.

Notable new projects include:

  • Expansion of the U.S. 36/SR 37 “Point” under the railroad in Delaware
  • State Route 161 widening between I-270 and U.S. 62 in northeast Franklin County
  • Thornwood Crossing bridge expansion in Licking County
  • I-270/U.S. 23 interchange reconfiguration in southern Franklin County
  • Expansion of the I-70/SR 29 interchange in Madison County, including construction of a roundabout at the eastbound ramps
  • State Route 209 bridge replacement south of U.S. 22/40 in Guernsey County
  • I-71 widening between the Franklin County Line and State Route 56 in Madison County

"All of these projects further serve to connect central Ohio to the rest of the state, improving access to economic growth in the central Ohio region," Turowski said.

Downtown Columbus work continues

In addition to new projects, work continues on the I-70/71 split in downtown Columbus, the I-70/270 interchange on the east side of the city and at State Route 161 and Post Road in Dublin.

Work continues on the I-70/71/Rt. 315 interchange ramps just southwest of downtown Columbus in this Aug. 5, 2022 file photo. Some of the most notable improvements: The I-70 and I-71 westbound lane to I-71 south currently goes under I-70 eastbound, but when the redesign is completed it will be on top of "the stack" as freeway engineers call this intersection. The tight I-70 eastbound to Route 315 north ramp been eliminated and will be replaced with a longer flyover ramp.

Further east of Columbus, work continues on I-70 in Zanesville and on State Route 16 in Coshocton. Dual roundabouts at the U.S. 22/SR 159/ Delmont Road intersection in Fairfield County are expected to open by the end of the year.

Safe driving urged in construction zones

Turowski on Wednesday implored motorists to pay attention while driving, saying construction workers often have only a "thin yellow line" that separates them from traffic.

"As you drive through our work zones, put your phones down, pay attention and slow down," Turowski said. "These people all have friends and families waiting for them at home."

Madison County engineer Bryan Dhume (left) and Toni Turowski of the Ohio Department of Transportation District 6 talk at a new roundabout on State Route 29 at Interstate 70.

There were more than 4,600 work zone-related crashes in Ohio last year, with 21 of them resulting in 23 deaths and 85 involving serious injuries, according to the Ohio Highway Patrol. Summit County recorded the most in the state with 814 crashes in work zones.

“These workers are out there ensuring that your travels are as safe as possible. They just ask for your attention and patience in return,” ODOT Director Jack Marchbanks said in a news release.

Monroe Trombly covers the workplace and environmental issues for The Columbus Dispatch.

mtrombly@dispatch.com

@monroetrombly