March 30 1999
Warm weather heralds return of barrel season
By David Crawford
Staff Writer
Construction projects on I-75 and SR 2 planned by the Ohio Department of Transportation could impact the summer travel plans of residents from this area.
To announce its 1999 major statewide construction projects, ODOT has created a brochure to highlight the construction areas available at local rest stops and also has information available on its webpage, www.dot.state.oh.us, on current and future construction projects.
"The SR 2 project will be the largest one in the district this year," ODOT District Two Public Information Officer James Faught said. "It will be a $26 million project over the next three years."
Around Sandusky, there will be construction on SR 2 from near the US 6 interchange east to SR 4. This project will begin in May through late November 1999.
Another SR 2 project is a resurfacing project west of Port Clinton between Camp Perry Western Road and Camp Perry Eastern Road. This project from May to November will reduce traffic to one lane in each direction.
A final SR 2 project is the widening and reconstruction of the state route through the East Toledo suburb of Oregon.
This year marks the beginning of a three-year project to widen the highway from the interchange with I-280 to the eastern corporation limit of Oregon.
This year's construction efforts will focus on the improvements at the intersection of SR 2 and Wheeling Street near St. Charles Hospital and on preparations for the construction of a railroad overpass next year.
Other projects planned for SR 2 will occur starting in fall 1999 into 2000. These include the reconstruction of the US 6 interchange with SR 2 near Sandusky and three bridge replacement projects in western Ottawa County.
Area construction for I-75 will focus on the downtown and south Toledo areas.
A current construction project on southbound I-75 from the Buck Road exit in Rossford to the southern split with I-475 in Perrysburg has closed some exits and restrict traffic. This project will last until the fall.
A second project on I-75 will concentrate on resurfacing the highway and exit ramps in downtown Toledo. This will affect traffic in both directions through the fall.
Other projects in the Toledo area include a bridge replacement project on I-475 north of the Airport Highway exit; resurfacing on I-280 between the Ohio Turnpike and the Walbridge exit, and the construction of a new exit on I-280 for the new Buckeye Basin Parkway to connect downtown Toledo with the northern portions of the city.
Other major statewide projects for ODOT include:
- I-71 projects in Cuyahoga County in Northeastern Ohio and in Clinton and Warren counties in Southwestern Ohio.
- I-77 projects in Summit County in Northeastern Ohio and in Washington County in Southeastern Ohio.
- I-270 around the northern suburbs of Columbus.
The brochure created by ODOT is available at state roadside information centers, rest areas, and at local AAA branches.
The Tiffin AAA branch has ordered but not received the brochures.