Road Warrior

4/9/2004

The Blade's Road Warrior tells readers where the biggest driving headaches will be throughout the construction season. He'll tell you which spots to avoid and what detours to take.

Easter weekend travelers should encounter no construction-related lane closings on major highways in northwest Ohio or southeast Michigan, according to the states' transportation departments.

Starting Monday, however, Ohio Turnpike travelers will face a single-lane zone between the Maumee River and a point west of Exit 59, U.S. 20, for a resurfacing project. Single-lane traffic will be in effect continuously until late June, and traffic delays are likely in the area, especially on Friday and Sunday afternoons and evenings.

Toledo-area motorists heading to western points on the turnpike should use the Airport Highway (State Rt. 2) interchange, while those headed east would be wise to enter at I-75 during the construction.

1. I-280: Bridge construction causes occasional daytime traffic stops up to 10 minutes in either direction between the Buckeye Basin Greenbelt Parkway and Starr Avenue. A 35-mph speed limit is posted.

The following ramps are temporarily closed: Manhattan Boulevard to southbound I-280, the Greenbelt to southbound I-280, and northbound I-280 to the Greenbelt. Except for the northbound I-280 exit at Summit Street and the southbound Summit entrance to southbound I-280, all ramps at Summit have been closed permanently.

Manhattan is reduced to one lane each way at I-280, and southbound Front Street is one lane at I-280. Ash and Huron streets are closed at the freeway.

2. I-475: Bridge work requires nighttime lane closings at Holland-Sylvania Road (10 p.m. to 6 a.m.), and Holland-Sylvania is reduced to one lane in each direction.

3. King Bridge: Reconstruction reduces traffic to one lane in each direction.

4. U.S. 24 (Detroit Avenue): Bridge repairs restrict traffic to one lane in each direction between Phillips Avenue and Collingwood Boulevard. Delays are likely.

5. U.S. 20: Bridge and pavement repairs restrict traffic to one lane each way through Woodville. Delays are likely.

6. State Rt. 64: A widening project requires lane closings on East Wooster Street in Bowling Green. Flag zones will be set up at times. Expect traffic delays on Wooster and intersecting streets. Downtown Bowling Green traffic should consider using State Rt. 25 and either U.S. 6 or State Rt. 582 to get to or from I-75.

7. West South Boundary Street: Widening closes the road to through-traffic between State Rts. 25 and 199 until late August. Use Eckel Junction Road instead. Local traffic may be delayed.

8. State Rt. 25: Intersection work at Roachton Road closes the left lane in each direction. Expect delays.

OFF THE MAP

I-75: Crack sealing requires day-to-day lane closings between Lima and Beaverdam, Ohio. Work is scheduled for Monday through Thursday, weather permitting.

I-75/State Rt. 18: The Route 18 bridge over I-75 east of North Baltimore will close for replacement on Monday. Demolition on Tuesday will require I-75 traffic to be reduced to a single lane in each direction and routed through the Route 18 interchange ramps. All access to or from Route 18 will be blocked during that work. Cross-freeway traffic on Route 18 will otherwise be detoured via I-75 and the State Rt. 613 interchange near Van Buren. Lane closings between 10 p.m. and 7 a.m. nightly are possible on I-75.

U.S. 6/20: Resurfacing requires lane closings on the Fremont Bypass. Delays are possible.

U.S. 224: A bridge replacement closes the route between Welly Road and Seneca County Road 591 through mid-May. Detour via State Rts. 53 and 587.