By 1812Blockhouse
Ohio’s push to reduce serious crashes and traffic deaths is bringing a significant safety redesign to a key Richland County intersection.
On Monday, Mike DeWine and Ohio Department of Transportation Director Pamela Boratyn announced details of 39 transportation safety projects across 27 counties. Together, they represent a $97.2 million investment through ODOT’s Highway Safety Improvement Program, the largest safety program in the nation on a per-capita basis.
That sustained investment is showing results. Ohio has now seen four consecutive years of declines in traffic fatalities and serious injuries, a trend state officials directly connect to targeted, data-driven roadway improvements.
What’s Planned for Richland County
One of the approved projects will take place in Richland County under ODOT District 3, focusing on the intersection of State Route 13 and Vanderbilt Road near Mansfield.
Rather than a traditional intersection upgrade, the project will construct an RCUT, or Restricted Crossing U-Turn, at Vanderbilt Road. The design eliminates left turns and straight-through crossings from the side road. Instead, drivers will turn right onto SR 13 and then make a U-turn at a designated median opening. This approach may feel unfamiliar to some drivers at first, but it has a clear safety purpose. By removing the most dangerous crossing and left-turn movements, RCUTs dramatically reduce conflict points and lower the likelihood of severe angle crashes.
The project will be developed over multiple years, with total funding of $2.2 million.
Why RCUTs Are Gaining Ground
“We want Ohioans to get from place to place safely,” Governor DeWine said, noting that road design plays a central role in preventing crashes before they happen.
RCUTs are increasingly used on high-speed, high-volume state routes like SR 13, where traditional intersections can expose drivers to dangerous judgment calls. While they may add a few seconds to some trips, studies consistently show that RCUTs improve safety without significantly impacting travel times overall.
Boratyn emphasized that projects like this are chosen based on crash history and proven effectiveness. “By combining proven safety countermeasures with proactive improvements, we are investing in solutions that save lives and reduce the risk of crashes before they happen,” she said.
A Long-Term Local Impact
For drivers in the Mansfield area, the SR 13 and Vanderbilt Road project reflects a broader shift in how Ohio approaches roadway safety. Instead of reacting after crashes occur, the state is redesigning problem intersections to make serious crashes far less likely in the first place.
Construction may still be several years away, but when the RCUT is complete, its impact will be measured quietly, in fewer sirens, fewer roadside memorials, and more people getting home safely at the end of the day.
Source: ODOT, Office of Governor DeWine
