Ohio DOT Celebrates Launch of $1.92 Billion Construction Season

New lanes, new interchanges and newly renovated streets are all on the agenda.

Source : Screenshot via Ohio Department of Transportation

April 12, 2021

Author : Patty Rodriguez

This year, ODOT will undertake 956 projects across the state. That includes improvements to almost 4,596 miles of pavement and 876 bridges. Some 266 of the projects are safety-oriented.

ODOT Director Jack Marchbanks marked the start of the construction season with an event along Interstate 475. 

“Thanks to the foresight of Governor DeWin and the Ohio General Assembly and internal operational savings identified by our workforce, we have been able to weather this global pandemic,” Marchbanks said. “Without those extra funds, we would be nearly a billion dollars in the red. While other states have been delaying or canceling projects, Ohio continues moving forward.”

According to ODOT, “Ninety-six cents of every dollar invested will go toward making sure existing roads and bridges are in good condition and as safe as possible.”

A full list of projects can be found on ODOT’s website here.

The highest value ticket item, by far, the “Downtown Ramp Up,” a “series of projects to reconstruct Interstates 70/71 in downtown Columbus and alleviate the biggest safety and congestion problems along the corridor. According to ODOT, the $1.4 billion undertaking will include safety improvements at three of the state’s top ten crash locations; an additional lane along both sides of I-70/71; two continuous lanes for I-70 east and west and for I-71 north and south through downtown Columbus; the elimination of of nearly 70 percent of lane changes on I-70/71; the elimination of free-flown ramps at downtown street intersections; and the replacement of bridges with new structures that are more open to pedestrians and parking.

ODOT also plans a $433 million series of improvements to the I-70 Freeway, a $343 million reconstruction of a portion of I-75 between Buck Road and Dorr Street as well as the DiSalle Bridge in Toledo, and much more.

Category : Contractor Trades Department of Transportation Investment in Infrastructure State Government Bridges Freeways and Highways Public Works

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