Greater Columbus drivers may notice more orange barrels than usual as warmer weather brings out construction crews in the coming weeks.
This construction season promises to be dominated by a major project to increase safety and smooth traffic in an intersection at the heart of Columbus. But several smaller projects are also on the calendar and will involve temporary lane and ramp closures.
The Ohio Department of Transportation outlined its road construction projects in a press conference Wednesday held near the interchange that connects Brice Road and Interstate 70.
One of the projects involves building a flyover ramp connecting I-70 with I-270, which was highlighted in Wednesday’s press conference. The current ramps, state officials said, require drivers to weave through traffic, and the new ramp will make the interchange safer.
Statewide, more than 130 projects are on the schedule at a cost of more than $800 million, much of which comes from the state’s gas tax.
The agency is getting ready to put out bids for contractors to perform the bulk of the construction work. Construction will begin in earnest once those bids are finalized, said Tony Turowski, ODOT’s deputy director for District 6, which includes Franklin County.
“We’ll be opening the contract here in two weeks, and provided everything is good, we’ll probably start seeing traffic impacts in July or August,” he said.
Drivers will experience lane and ramp closures on some major highways, which will inevitably lead to slow downs. And in some cases, drivers will need to find alternative routes.
For example, drivers will need to find ways around the Route 104 bridge that spans I-270, which will be closed for 30 days this summer. The Front Street bridge that spans I-70 in Downtown Columbus will also be closed temporarily in the coming months as workers build a replacement.
This spring and summer’s projects include:
- Widening Worthington-Galena Road to four lanes, adding a traffic signal at the intersection with East Wilson Bridge and Huntley Roads, widening and extending Huntley Road to Sancus Boulevard, and creating a multi-use path. Two lanes of traffic will be maintained at all times. The project is scheduled to end in July.
- Adding a flyover ramp from the southbound lanes of I-270 to the eastbound lanes of I-70, reconfiguring the ramps from I-270 north to I-70 east, and to Brice Road, and adding an eastbound ramp lane on I-70 between I-270 and Brice Road. This project will begin in July and end in the summer of 2025. Lane and ramp closures are expected.
- Replace the Route 104 bridge that spans I-270. The project will begin later this month and conclude in September, and will include a 30-day bridge closure.
- Seal the pavement on I-270 between I-70 and Dempsey Road on the North Side, and on I-70 between Hamilton Road and I-71. This project will begin in June and end in October and involve some temporary lane and ramp closures.
- Repair the pavement on I-270 between Sawmill Road and Tuttle Crossing Boulevard, and on Route 40 between Wilson Road and I-270. This project will begin in June and end in October and involve some temporary lane closures.
- Replace the Winchester Pike bridge that spans I-270. This project will begin in July and end next summer. One lane of two-way traffic will be maintained with a signal on Winchester Pike.
- Repair the pavement and resurface I-70 between the Madison/Franklin County Line and Hilliard Rome Road, and repair the pavement on I-270 between I-70 and Alum Creek Drive. This ongoing project will end in July and involve temporary lane and ramp closures.
