Obama's Columbus visit tied to road project made possible with stimulus money

BLADE COLUMBUS BUREAU

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COLUMBUS — The economy will be on President Barack Obama's mind Friday when he visits the ground-breaking of a Columbus road project to promote the impact of the $787 billion stimulus package he championed last year.

The President plans to meet with workers and deliver remarks shortly after noon at an event that is otherwise not open to the public. The $25 million economic development project, covered entirely by the borrowing-fueled economic stimulus package, includes road widening, wider sidewalks, and new turn lanes, signaling, and bicycle lanes.

The roads surround the campus of Nationwide Children's Hospital off I-70 on the city's east side and the project is tied to the hospital's expansion to include a new $740 million pediatric care and research facility. The second largest such facility in the country is expected to open in 2012.

The visit will be Mr. Obama's eighth to battleground Ohio since taking office.

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