With the Spring season officially underway, crews with the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) will turn their attentions from clearing ice and snow to clearing litter along Ohio’s roadways and bridges.

And this year, they will enlist an army of volunteers to help prevent litter Clear Across Ohio.

In many parts of the state, ODOT crews are out cleaning debris along the highway. On Friday, March 26, ODOT District two maintenance forces along with volunteers are expected to fan out across Fulton, Lucas, Henry, Ottawa, Sandusky, Seneca, Williams and Wood counties to pick up litter at various ODOT roadways.

Last year, ODOT spent approximately $4 million and used 187,951 labor hours picking up 342,552 bags of litter from highways and interchanges.

ODOT does have help in fighting litter. As part of coordinated cleanup efforts in many parts of the state, hundreds of volunteer groups comprised of local neighborhood groups, businesses and organizations will take to Ohio’s roadways this month to pick up thousands of pounds of recyclables, litter and debris.

The cost and time involved to remove litter from the highways could have been used for other needs. $4 million  is approximately what it costs to install 340 miles of safety guardrail, pave 20 miles of a four-lane highway or apply pavement markings along 347 miles of highway.

Through the Adopt-A-Highway program, ODOT has more than 1,400 groups - with at least one group in each county – who have adopted a two mile section or an interchange along the state highway system, picking up litter and debris a minimum of four times each year.

Interested groups can go online to www.dot.state.oh.us and look for the Adopt-a-Highway icon.

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