COLUMBUS, Ohio — While families across Ohio taking a week off for spring vacations, officials from the Ohio Department of Transportation are asking drivers to slow down around the many construction zones on the roads.
ODOT workers do not take a break for spring break, so Ohio drivers will see plenty of resurfacing, pavement work and pothole patching on major highways across the state.
“I understand when you’re trying to get to the beach, or trying to get to your favorite Ohio state park. You want to get there as fast as you can you want to get there as efficiently as possible,” ODOT spokesperson, Brooke Ebersole said. "I need you to leave early and give yourself extra time to get wherever it is that you’re going.”
Ebersole said drivers should expect to slow down 15 to 20 mph under the speed limit while driving through construction zones.
Speeding ticket fines are doubled if a driver gets one while driving through a construction zone.
Here are a few of those major zones that Ohio drivers will run into across the state.
Akron
Central Interchange Project
- If you are coming from the north and driving south through the Akron area, the ramp from Interstate 76 eastbound to Interstate 77 southbound is closed.
- The detour is I-76/Kenmore Leg southbound to Interstate 277/U.S. Route 224 eastbound to I-77.
- If you are west of Akron and want to head north, be aware that the I-76/Route 224 eastbound ramp to I-76/Kenmore Leg northbound is closed.
- The detour is I-76 eastbound to state Route 21 northbound.
Cincinnati
I-71 Bridges
- I-71 in Clinton will have shifted lanes for dual bridge work (to replace, widen concrete slab bridges) over Anderson Fork and Grassy Run.
Dayton
Interstate 75 Reconstruction
- I-75 reconstruction between U.S. Route 35 and West Carrollton begins in April.
Toledo
I-75 Reconstruction
- Reconstruction of I-75 in Wood and Lucas counties continues this year
- Two adjacent projects between Buck Road and Dorr Street are under way totaling $352 million.
- The northern/downtown portion of the project is nearly done except for bridge painting portion.
- Work continues on the south project which began in late 2018 and is expected to complete in 2023.
- Construction of pavement on I-75 northbound between Wales Road and South Avenue continues.
Interstate 475 Widening
- Widening of I-475 to three lanes between Airport Highway and U.S. Route 24 also includes construction of a new interchange at I-475 and U.S. Route 20, Lucas County.
Columbus
Far East Freeway
- Interstate 270 northbound to I-70 westbound ramp closed for 90 days (East Side).
Downtown Ramp Up
- Front Street bridge will close this spring.
- I-70 WB to state Route 315 northbound ramp will close in March.
Drivers can find detours and plan their exact route by looking at all work across Ohio on OHGO.com.