Labor Day may not be cause for celebration for some: Swimming pools close, summer vacations end and schools return to session. But for the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT), Labor Day means some major construction projects around the state – many that have been under construction for multiple years – are wrapping up and will soon be open to motorists.
“This was a record year for ODOT,” said ODOT Director Jerry Wray. “Crews worked on more than 900 construction projects. Motorists have demonstrated significant patience during the summer construction season and all of us are pretty happy to see many of those orange barrels disappear.”
Major projects ending this fall include:
- The $150 million widening of I-71 from two to three lanes in each direction in Delaware and Morrow counties ends the 15-year push to widen I-71 to three lanes from Columbus to Cleveland.
- The $200 million I-71/670 Columbus Crossroads Project has added a travel lane on I-670, constructed 22 new bridges and 28 new retaining walls along with two new urban avenues to improve access and mobility.
- The $12 million, two-year rehabilitation project of U.S. Route 52 in Scioto County between the S.R. 239 interchange and the Scioto River bridges in Portsmouth.
- The $60 million pavement replacement project on I-90 east and westbound in Lake County between Morley Rd. and Painesville-Warren Rd. (SR 86). The pavement is being rebuilt from the ground up for the first time since it was built in the 50s and 60s. It will now last approximately 30 or more years.
Of the remaining projects still under construction, some could impact your Labor Day weekend travel. Although work is suspended in most construction zones over the holiday weekend, motorists should plan alternate routes or allow additional travel time to avoid work zone congestion, delays or more serious highway incidents. Up-to-date traffic information is available 24 hours a day at www.OHGO.com
EASTERN OHIO
Downtown Lancaster, Fairfield County
By Labor Day weekend, ODOT contractors will have completed nearly all of the pavement resurfacing on multiple state routes through downtown Lancaster. Some minor corrective work will continue into September with minimal impact to traffic.
State Route 7, Jefferson County
SR 7 is reduced to one lane between Brilliant and Rush Run for landslide repairs
State Route 60, Muskingum County
State Route 60, which is closed for a rock slope repair between Duncan Falls and Gaysport will be OPEN for the Labor Day Holiday. The road will close again for approximately two more weeks to complete the project.
State Route 83, Muskingum County
The bridge replacement that began in New Concord this spring will be complete in October. Detour: Southbound traffic take U.S. 22 west to I-70 east, back to SR 83. Alternatively, drives can follow U.S. 22 east to SR 723 south, to I-70 west. Reverse routes will apply to northbound traffic.
U.S. Route 250, Tuscarawas County
U.S. 250 is reduced to one, 12-foot lane in each direction between the SR 39/I-77 Interchange and the SR 259/Schoenbrunn exit for resurfacing work.
Interstate 70, Licking County
ODOT will complete a bridge replacement on the interstate between SRs 79 and 37.
Interstate 70, Muskingum County
Beginning Sept. 2, traffic patterns will shift near the I-70/SR 93 interchange for underground mine mitigation. The eastbound onramp at SR 93 will close for most of September and the westbound off-ramp will close for most of October. Estimation completion is mid-November.
Interstate 70, Belmont County
Three miles of I-70 is being repaired and resurfaced from about a mile east of CR 214 to Bridgeport. One lane of traffic will be maintained in each direction.
WESTERN OHIO
Interstate 70, Montgomery County
I-70 between Arlington Rd. and Number Nine Rd. is under construction. Motorists will encounter a crossover lane in this area. One lane of I-70 westbound will be shifted to I-70 eastbound so that crews can work on the interstate. The two lanes of I-70 eastbound and the shifted lane of I-70 westbound will have a restricted width of 10 feet 5 inches. The right hand lane of I-70 westbound will remain 12 feet in width.
Interstate 70, Clark County
I-70 between Enon Rd. and U.S. 68 is under construction due to a lane addition project. Motorists will encounter orange barrels with two lanes of traffic open both eastbound and westbound.
Interstate 75, Montgomery County
I-75 from Third St. to Main St. is under construction due to the modernization of the interstate through the city of Dayton. Two lanes of traffic will remain open to northbound motorists. Three lanes will be open to southbound motorists. Motorists need to stay alert, as traffic patterns are currently not in their traditional places at this location.
NORTHERN OHIO
State Route 2, Erie County
SR 2, from the Edison Bay Bridge to the State Route 269 interchange, is reduced to one lane of traffic in each direction during the day for work as part of a resurfacing project. One lane will be maintained at all times. The project is expected to be complete in June 2015.
State Route 57, Lorain County
SR 57, between I-90 and the Ohio Turnpike, is shifted on to the outside travel lanes as part of a major corridor improvement project in the city of Elyria. Two lanes of traffic are maintained in each direction along SR 57. Beginning Wednesday, Aug. 27, SR 57 between I-90 and Beechwood Dr, will also be shifted to the outside travel lanes for work as part of this project. Crews are also working on various intersections around the project area. The project is expected to be complete in August 2016.
· The SR 57 entrance ramp to I-90 west is reduced to one lane of traffic for work as part of this project.
Motorists should expect delays in this area.
Interstate 90/State Route 611, Lorain County
I-90, at its interchange with SR 611 (mile marker 151) in the city of Avon, is restricted to two narrowed lanes of traffic in each direction as part of a bridge rehabilitation project. SR 611 is also restricted to one lane of traffic in each direction. Motorists should expect delays and allow for extra time as they travel this area during the construction of this project, and are encouraged to find alternative routes around the project if possible. The project is scheduled to be complete in June 2015.
NORTHEASTERN OHIO
U.S. Route 422 Minor Rehabilitation, Geauga County
The U.S. 422 eastbound exit ramp to SR 44 is closed through late-September. Motorists will detour via U.S. 422 eastbound to SR 700 south to SR 82 west to SR 44. U.S. 422 east and westbound will be maintained with one lane in each direction between SR 306 and SR 44 utilizing a “contraflow” traffic pattern. Portable concrete barriers will be used to separate east and westbound traffic while one lane of U.S. 422 eastbound is shifted onto the westbound side of the highway.
Interstate 77 Bridge Deck Replacement, Cuyahoga County
The I-480 eastbound ramp to I-77 northbound is closed. Traffic is maintained on I-77 north and southbound between I-480 and SR 21 utilizing the crossover traffic pattern. Visit www.77bridgedeckreplacement.transportation.ohio.gov for detours and more information.
Interstate 77, Stark County
Resurfacing of I-77 from SR 800 to the Tuscarawas County line, project includes replacement of I-77 bridges over Gracemont Ave. Motorists traveling on I-77 southbound from Fohl Rd. to the Tuscarawas County line should be aware of a bi-directional traffic pattern. Although two lanes of traffic are maintained in each direction on I-77, southbound traffic is split, with one lane of southbound traffic crossed over onto I-77 northbound, while the second lane remains on I-77 southbound.
Interstate 90, Ashtabula County
Pavement replacement along I-90 from just west of SR 45 to just east of SR 11. The project also includes modifications to the I-90/SR 11 interchange and repairs to seven bridges along I-90. The following lane restrictions and ramp closures are in place:
SR 11 northbound and southbound is reduced to one lane in each direction over I-90 via a crossover condition.
· The SR 11 northbound ramp to I-90 westbound is closed through mid-October. The detour is SR 11 north to Seven Hills Rd. to SR 11 south to I-90.
· The I-90 eastbound ramp to SR 11 northbound is closed through mid-October. The detour is SR 11 south to SR 46 to SR 11 north to I-90.
· I-90 eastbound and westbound between SR 45 and SR 11 has various daily lane restrictions for roadway construction.
Interstate 90 George V. Voinovich Bridge, Cuyahoga County
All I-90 traffic is now traveling on the first of two, new bridges to replace the 1959 Innerbelt Bridge in downtown Cleveland. Interstate 90 remains open; however, multiple ramps – including the Ontario St. exit ramp from I-90 east – along the downtown corridor are closed or restricted. Visit www.Innerbelt.org for more information.
Interstate 271 in Richfield Village & Richfield Township
Pavement replacement along I-271 from Broadview Rd. to the Ohio Turnpike. The following traffic restrictions are in place:
· SR 176/Broadview Rd. over I-271 is closed through mid-September for a bridge replacement. The detour is Brecksville Rd. and SR 303.
· SR 303 over I-271 is restricted to one lane in each direction for bridge work through early December.
· Motorists traveling on I-271 northbound between I-77 and the Ohio Turnpike should be aware of a bi-directional traffic pattern. Although two lanes of traffic are maintained in each direction on I-271, northbound, traffic is split, with one lane of northbound traffic crossed over onto I-271 southbound, while the second lane remains on I-271 northbound.
NORTHWESTERN OHIO
State Route 2, Lucas County
Rehabilitate the SR 2 bridge over the Maumee River. The Anthony Wayne Bridge remains closed through September 2015. Traffic is being detoured onto Nevada St.; Miami St.; Greenwood St.
Interstate 75, Lucas County
Through July 2015, I-75, from the I-75/475 interchange in Toledo to the Anthony Wayne Trail is reduced to two lanes. Ramp restrictions are also in place at the I-75/475 interchange in Toledo. The ramp from Detroit Ave. to southbound I-75 is closed. Detour is posted.
Interstate 75, Wood County
Widen I-75 to three lanes in both directions from Perrysburg to Findlay. 11-foot lane width restrictions and reduced speed limits are in place in the work zone.
Interstate 280, Wood County
I-280 is reduced to one lane between Ayers Rd. and Woodville Rd. for bridge work. 11-foot lane width restrictions and reduced speed limits are in place in the work zone.
Interstate 475, Lucas County
Through June 2016, 11-foot lane width restrictions will be in place on Interstate 475 from Salisbury Rd./Dussel Dr. to Angola Rd. for bridge widening.
SOUTHERN OHIO
U.S. Route 68, Brown County
Traffic signals are in flashing mode at U.S. 68 and the S.R. 32 interchange in Mt. Orab following a turn-lane addition project. All new lane assignments are in place, and the affected routes are open to two-way traffic. The new signals will be in stop-and-go operation following the Labor Day holiday, and all work is scheduled to be completed by late September.
SOUTHEASTERN OHIO
State Route 56, Vinton County
Road closed just north of the Athens County line until Sept. 5. Locals are advised to find a shorter, more localized route around the closure. Traffic is detoured onto SR 278 to Nelsonville then SR 691 back to SR 56.
SOUTHWESTERN OHIO
Interstate 71, Hamilton County
Interchange reconstruction work includes lengthening exit ramp deceleration lanes on I-71 at Fields Ertel Rd. and constructing new northbound exit loop ramp that diverges from the existing I-71 northbound exit ramp. Work also includes deck overlays, bridge widening and addition of southbound turn lane on Mason-Montgomery Rd. While the traffic pattern is in the permanent configuration, work is suspended over the holiday and there will be no additional lane closures.
Interstate 75, Hamilton County
Interchange improvement of just over one mile of Interstate 75 including the replacement of the Clifton/Mitchell avenues structure. All northbound traffic is being maintained on the southbound side, maintaining three lanes in each direction. Speed is reduced to 45 mph in the construction zone. While the permanent work zone restrictions remain in place, work is suspended over the holiday and there will be no additional lane closures.
Interstate 75, Warren County
Interchange improvement including providing a new entrance ramp to northbound I-75 from westbound SR 73 in the city of Springboro. Work includes signal and waterline relocations. While the traffic pattern is in the permanent configuration, work is suspended over the holiday and there will be no additional lane closures.
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