ODOT kicks off highway construction season at April 5 event

ODOT officially kicked off its highway construction season at an April 5 event headlined by ODOT Director Jack Marchbanks.
The event was held along I-475 at Dorr Street, Toledo, where a $46.7 million project that began in November 2019 continues. Work is expected to be completed this fall.
A separate kickoff event for projects occurring in the Lima area was held April 6.
The project is adding a third lane of travel in each direction on a two-mile section of the I-475/U.S. 23 corridor, constructing a new interchange at Dorr Street, and reconstructing a section of Dorr Street.
Joining Director Marchbanks was ODOT District 2 Deputy Director Pat McColley, Lucas County Engineer Mike Pniewski, and Inverness Club President Dr. Gregory Kasper.
Marchbanks noted that in Northwest Ohio and throughout the state, projects have largely moved forward, despite the pandemic.
“Thanks to the foresight of Gov. DeWine and the Ohio General Assembly and internal operational savings identified by our workforce, we have been able to weather this global pandemic. Without those extra funds, we would be nearly a billion dollars in the red,” said Marchbanks. “While other states have been delaying or canceling projects, Ohio continues moving forward."
The I-475 at Dorr Street project figures heavily into the upcoming Solheim Cup in September at Inverness Club, located on Dorr Street just east of the project.
“The ODOT project is a much-needed conduit for this part of our community. We are so pleased they have agreed to complete this project prior to the Solheim Cup. The innovative and new interchange will create a wonderful introduction of Toledo to an international audience at the tournament this fall,” Kasper said.
Other notable projects in Northwest Ohio that will continue this year include:
• The construction on I-75 in Wood and Lucas counties.
• Two abutting projects between Buck Road and Dorr Street are under way totaling $343 million. Work began in late 2018 and is expected to complete in 2023.
• The placement of a concrete overlay on the driving surface of the Veterans’ Glass City Skyway bridge in East Toledo, Lucas County. Work began on the $18 million project in March of 2020 and is expected to complete this fall.
• A $21 million project on Interstate 75 from just south of the village of Beaverdam to north of the village of Bluffton, Allen and Hancock counties. The project is reconstructing pavement and ramps at the Interstate 75 interchange with State Route 696. Construction began in 2020 and will complete this summer.
Notable projects in northwest Ohio beginning this year:
• Resurfacing of I-75 between I-280 and the Michigan state line in North Toledo, Lucas County. Work will begin this month and complete this fall.
• Reconstruction of SR 25 between Cygnet Road and U.S. 6 south of Bowling Green, including Portage. Work will begin in June and complete in fall 2022.
• A safety project to improve the intersection of US 20/Reynolds Road and Heatherdowns Boulevard. Work will begin in September and complete in June 2022.
For a complete list of ODOT highway construction projects, visit www.transportation.ohio.gov.