By 1812Blockhouse, Ohio Department of Transportation
The Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) is kicking off the 2022 construction season throughout the state, with more than 130 projects worth nearly $800 million planned in the central Ohio area this year. This includes 42 pavement improvement projects, 22 bridge projects, and 31 projects aimed directly at improving safety on Ohio’s roads.
North Central Ohio will be a hub of activity as numerous projects get underway. These include regional projects with a local component as well as four major county transportation projects. Each major project is profiled below.
“Safety has been the top priority since the first day of the DeWine Administration. We’re constantly looking for ways to better engineer our roads to ensure they’re as safe as possible for those who use them each day,” said ODOT Director Jack Marchbanks. “However, drivers have an important role to play too. We need every motorist to buckle up, obey the speed limit, drive sober, and drop the distractions.”
In terms of Columbus work, safety is also a major component of the work beginning at Interstates 70/270 and Brice Road this year, the first phase of the Far East Freeway major reconstruction project. This series of projects will address the growing regional travel demand by improving safety at various interchanges along the I-70 corridor from U.S. Route 33 to State Route 256.
“This project is the first step towards easier travel on the east side,” said Interim District 6 Deputy Director Toni Turowski. “This corridor is key for the Columbus metro area and critical for through traffic to connect to eastern Ohio and beyond.”
Expected to begin this summer, the initial phase will replace the existing loop ramp from I-270 south to I-70 east with a flyover ramp to reduce weaving and merging at the interchange. It will also add an eastbound lane between I-270 and Brice Rd. and reconfigure ramps from I-270 north to I-70 east and Brice Rd. to address congestion and improve safety.
In addition to a number of maintenance and standard repair projects taking place in 2022, here is a list of major ODOT projects scheduled for Ashland, Crawford, and Richland Counties:
ASHLAND
U.S. ROUTE 30 AND STATE ROUTE 603 INTERSECTION IMPROVEMENT – Converting the intersection into a Reduced Conflict U-Turn (RCUT)
Begin Date: August 2021
Estimated End: August 2022
Project Cost: $3.1 million
Traffic Impacts: Lane closures on U.S. 30 and a 60 day closure of SR 603 for both approaches to U.S. 30
U.S. ROUTE 250 AND STATE ROUTE 89 INTERSECTION IMPROVEMENT – Improve intersection’s sight distance by lowering the crest vertical curve to the west of the intersection and widen the radii at the intersection to accommodate heavy truck volumes
Estimated Begin: May 2022
Estimated End: September 2022
Project Cost: $1.7 million
Traffic Impacts: 90 day closure of U.S. 250
U.S. ROUTE 250 AND STATE ROUTE 13 BRIDGE REPLACEMENTS – U.S. 250, just west of Township Rd 35 and SR 13, just south of U.S. 224
Estimated Begin: May 2022
Estimated End: November 2022
Project Cost: $455,000
Traffic Impacts: U.S. 250 30 day detour/ SR 13 45 day detour
U.S. ROUTE 250/ STATE ROUTE 60 / FAULTLESS DR. ROUNDABOUT – Converting a two way stop controlled intersection into a single-lane roundabout in the city of Ashland
Estimated Begin: May 2022
Estimated End: September 2022
Project Cost: $1.7 million
Traffic Impacts: 90 day closure of SR 60 and Faultess Dr.
U.S. ROUTE 42 SLIDE REPAIR – Just east of Twp. Rd. 101
Estimated Begin: April 2023
Estimated End: July 2023
Project Cost: $250,000
Traffic Impacts: Traffic will be maintained
STATE ROUTE 95/STATE ROUTE 603 CHIP SEAL – SR 95 from SR 39 to SR 60 in Ashland County and SR 603 from SR 39 to SR 95 in Richland County
Estimated Begin: June 2022
Estimated End: September 2022
Project Cost: $755,000
Traffic Impacts: Traffic will be maintained
CRAWFORD
STATE ROUTE 598 SAFETY IMPROVEMENT – Safety improvement project including widening and the addition of a turn lane on SR 598 from Carter Dr. to Brandt Rd. in the city of Galion – Begin Date: September 2021
Estimated End: October 2022
Project Cost: $3.6 million
Traffic Impacts: Traffic will be maintained
STATE ROUTE 96 CULVERT REPLACEMENT – Two culvert Replacements both just east of SR 602
Estimated Begin: September 2022
Estimated End: October 2022 Project Cost: $210,000
Traffic Impacts: 120 day closure
U.S. ROUTE 30 RESURFACING – From just east of SR 602 to just east of SR 61 Estimated Begin: April 2022
Estimated End: September 2022
Project Cost: $6.6 million
Traffic Impacts: Traffic will be maintained
STATE ROUTE 602 MAJOR REHABILITATION – Full depth replacement of SR 602 from Old Lincoln Way to Guiss Rd.
Estimated Begin: May 15, 2022
Estimated End: October 2022
Project Cost: $8.6 Million
Traffic Impacts: Traffic will be maintained
STATE ROUTE 96 REHABILITATION = Full depth rehabilitation from SR 98 to SR 602
Estimated Begin: April 2023
Estimated End: October 2023
Project Cost: $2.7 Million
Traffic Impacts: Traffic will be maintained
STATE ROUTE 39 MINOR REHABILITATION – From the southern village limits of Tiro to the western city limits of Shelby and SR 96 from the RIC Co. line to SR 39
Estimated Begin: April 2023
Estimated End: June 2023
Project Cost: $2 Million
Impacts: Traffic will be maintained
RICHLAND
U.S. ROUTE 30 MAJOR REHABILITATION – From SR 309 to just east of the Fifth Ave. ramps
Estimated Begin: May 2020
Estimated End: May 2023
Project Cost: $61 Million
Traffic Impacts: Traffic will be maintained
U.S. ROUTE 42 CULVERT PRESERVATION – Two structures both just north of W. Hanley Rd.
Estimated Begin: June 2022
Estimated End: October 2022
Project Cost: $350,000.00
Traffic Impacts: Traffic will be maintained
I-71 PREVENTATIVE MAINTENANCE – From the SR 13 structure to just south of Washington Rd.
Estimated Begin: August 2022
Estimated End: October 2022
Project Cost: $375,000.00
Traffic Impacts: Traffic will be maintained
STATE ROUTE 314 SIGNAL REPLACEMENT – At the intersection of SR 314 and Fourth Street
Estimated Begin: June 2022
Estimated End: April 2023
Project Cost: $200,000.00
Traffic Impacts: Traffic will be maintained
STATE ROUTE 39 MINOR REHABILITATION – From just north of the I-71 interchange to SR 603
Estimated Begin: August 2022
Estimated End: November 2022
Project Cost: $2.6 Million
Traffic Impacts: Traffic will be maintained
U.S. ROUTE 30 MINOR REHABILITATION – From the Fifth Ave Interchange ramps to just past the Ashland County Line’
Estimated Begin: January 2023
Estimated End: December 2023
Project Cost: $8.2 Million
Traffic Impacts: Traffic will be maintained
STATE ROUTE 39 BRIDGE REPLACEMENT – Between E 6 St. and Lafayette Ave. in the city of Mansfield
Estimated Begin: April 2022
Estimated End: August 2022
Project Cost: $994,303.00
Traffic Impacts: 120 day closure
STATE ROUTE 96 BRIDGE REPLACEMENT – Just east of SR 603
Estimated Begin: April 2023
Estimated End: November 2023
Project Cost: $2.3 Million
Traffic Impacts: 120 day closure
“It’s so important for drivers to focus on the road when they’re behind the wheel – especially when projects like these are underway,” said Turowski. “Construction often means new traffic patterns, narrower lanes, and lower speed limits. Staying alert in work zones is imperative to keeping workers and other drivers safe.”
