The Blade's Road Warrior

4/22/2005

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

Good news for downtown Toledo commuters!

Jackson Street is scheduled to reopen between Erie and Michigan streets at 9 a.m. today following the completion of a new pedestrian tunnel to the Lucas County Courthouse.

Also, all lanes on I-280 are planned to remain open this weekend.

The Ohio Department of Transportation had said earlier this week that crane maneuvers might require a shutdown, but spokesman Joe Rutherford said yesterday the activity will occur no sooner than next weekend.

In Wood County, meanwhile, officials in charge of the U.S. 20/23 and State Rt. 420 interchange project have decided to build a temporary intersection, with a traffic signal, for traffic to use while a new bridge is built at the current junction s location. This will delay the start of bridge construction until May 16, but eliminate some circuitous routes that had been planned for later this year and 2006.

1. I-280: The work area for the Veterans Glass City Skyway project requires a 35-mph speed limit, and traffic may be halted for up to 15 minutes during midday hours between I-75 and Navarre Avenue. The northbound exit and southbound entrance at Greenbelt Parkway remain closed, as do Ash and Huron streets at I-280.

2. U.S. 20/23, State Rt. 420: Utility work associated with upcoming interchange construction requires varying lane closings.

3. Auburn Avenue: Deck repairs on a bridge over I-475 close the street to through-traffic between South Cove Boulevard and Central Avenue for three weeks, starting Monday. Detour via Monroe Street and Upton and Central avenues.

4. Martin Luther King, Jr., Bridge: Preparatory work associated with the draw span replacement work requires varying lane closings between 6:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday, except holidays. Expect delays.

5. Seaman Street: A culvert replacement closes the intersection with Cousino Road in Oregon until May 2. Detour via North Curtice, Corduroy, Decant, and Jerusalem roads.

6. Byrne Road: Bridge reconstruction and pavement work restrict traffic to one lane in each direction between Airport Highway and Glendale Avenue. Use Eastgate Road or Detroit Avenue instead.

7. State Rt. 246 (Dorr Street): Resurfacing and repair restrict traffic to one lane each way between Douglas Road/Westwood Avenue and Smead Avenue.

8. Ohio Turnpike: Ramp resurfacing requires lane closings and flag zones on the Reynolds Road (U.S. 20) interchange ramps in Maumee.

9. Summit Street: Bridge reconstruction restricts traffic to one lane each way at the Ottawa River.

10. I-75: Bridge deck repairs limit traffic to two lanes each way between the Ohio-Michigan border and Exit 5 near Erie, Mich., and also between LaPlaisance Road and Dixie Highway near Monroe. Delays are possible during peak travel times.

11. I-475: Bridge painting requires lane closings at Holland-Sylvania Road between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. nightly. Completion is scheduled for May 2.

12. U.S. 20 (Central Avenue): Touch-up work on last year s widening and resurfacing project requires varying lane closings near McCord Road until May 13. Delays are likely.

13. Fulton-Lucas Road: Closed between Airport Highway and Shaffer Road for bridge repairs. Detour on Airport, Scott Road, and Shaffer Road. Project is expected to take 180 days.

OFF THE MAP

U.S. 6: Replacement of a culvert and a bridge closes the route to through-traffic in eastern Sandusky County until May 27. Detour via State Rts. 53 and 2.

In Fremont, traffic is reduced to one lane each way at the western end of the Fremont Bypass, with temporary traffic signals regulating the merge between U.S. 6 and U.S. 20. In Williams County, railroad crossing repairs close the route in Edgerton through today; detour via State Rts. 49, 249, and 2.

State Rt. 2: Rehabilitation of the Edison Bridge over Sandusky Bay restricts traffic to one lane in each direction until mid-May. Expect delays, especially on weekends.

State Rt. 108: Replacement of the Perry Street Bridge in Napoleon requires a six-mile detour, via U.S. 6 and State Rt. 110, until the new bridge opens in October.

Contact the Road Warrior at:roadwarrior@theblade.comor 419-724-6094.