ODOT taps 4 local projects for upgrades

Fulton County road is the largest at $600,000

6/4/2014
BLADE STAFF

Four Toledo-area projects are part of $4 million in construction the Ohio Department of Transportation has approved for improvement to local roads near the Ohio Turnpike under its Turnpike mitigation program.

The largest of the four is a $600,000 project to repair the embankments and pavement on Franklin Township Road 22 in western Fulton County at its bridge over the toll road.

Embankment and guardrail repairs budgeted for $310,000 are planned at the Portage River South Road overpass in Ottawa County’s Harris Township.

ODOT also announced plans for $140,000 in pavement repairs at the Lake Township intersection of Libbey Road and State Rt. 420, which is used heavily by truckers to reach several truck stops just south of the turnpike’s I-280 interchange, and $90,000 for pavement and drainage repairs at the Billman Road overpass in Clay Township, in southwestern Ottawa County.

“As ODOT traveled the northern part of Ohio discussing with local leaders how we could best leverage the turnpike, we heard time and time again of needs that were not being met because of the mere existence of the turnpike, and the impacts it has on surrounding local roadways,” ODOT Director Jerry Wray said. “In response, we developed a program to award money to local communities in need of transportation-related improvements along the turnpike.”

A committee of turnpike and ODOT officials reviewed 41 project proposals submitted in response to a December announcement about the program. All projects must be within one mile of the toll road.

The balance of the $4 million is to be spent on similar projects farther east along the turnpike.

In addition, the program includes $5 million for building noise walls along the toll road, but those projects must be approved by the Ohio Turnpike and Infrastructure Commission before they advance.

Commission discussion of the noise walls is scheduled for June 16.

— David Patch