Drivers say the northbound Delaware/Sunbury exit off of Interstate 71 is causing major traffic jams in Delaware County. ODOT has started construction on a widening project that won’t be complete until the Tanger Outlets are ready to open.
Drivers say they hope these new improvements will pave the way for less stress behind the wheel.
Headed North on I-71 and drivers will run into collapsed lanes and a slower speed limit. Equipment and orange cones will guide them to Routes 36/37 for the next few months.
“Usually every Friday evening, it's stopped. We're just crawling, to this exit. I think it’ll help to widen them out,” driver Roger Smith said.
ODOT has crews working on its project to widen the exit ramp. Instead of two lanes drivers will have four to get off the interstate. In a release ODOT said the project will improve traffic flow, increase capacity on the ramp and decrease back-ups onto the interstate.
ODOT says construction should be complete by the time the new outlet mall is set to open in June.
Outlet mall traffic could flow into Sunbury, giving local businesses a boost. The owner of PJ’s Family Restaurant on Route 36, isn’t so sure.
"I guess it depends on where the traffic from that mall is going to come from,” Barry Bennett said.
For the last 30 years PJ’s has welcomed families to its Sunbury restaurant just four miles from exit 131.
"My gut feeling is it's probably going to get more congested just because of the mall. How much? Who knows,” Bennett said.
Bennett says traffic in the community is a pain with or without the construction, but more lanes on the exit ramp will help alleviate the jamming. He says it’s possible the outlet mall will bring him new customers, though he says he isn’t counting on it.
"I don't really see anybody who comes here now not coming here because there's a new mall up by the highway. Possibly the opposite cause it's just going to increase the traffic and congestion up there,” Bennett said.
The outlet mall is expected to open June. The exit ramp widening project is also set to be complete in June.