COLUMBUS, Ohio – This weekend marks the beginning of heavy construction on the second of three projects to widen I-71 in Delaware and Morrow counties.
This phase will add a third lane in each direction on I-71 just north of US 36/SR 37 in Delaware County to just north of SR 61 in Morrow County, Ohio Department of Transportation spokeswoman Nancy Burton said.
This weekend, Burton says I-71 south will be reduced to one lane between US 36/SR 37 and SR 61 from 10:00 p.m. Friday to 9:00 a.m. Sunday to shift traffic over.
The $50 million project will widen nine miles of I-71 and is expected to be complete in the fall of 2014, Burton said.
The focus of this year’s work will be on I-71 south: There will still be two lanes for southbound traffic, but motorists will notice that the lanes are shifted to the outside of the interstate to give the contractor room to work.
Burton says northbound traffic will be shifted over just north of SR 61 so crews can complete bridge work over Crall Road.
Once traffic is shifted, Burton says two lanes will be maintained in each direction on I-71.
Next Wednesday, March 13, Crall Road will close in both directions for six months between SR 61 and County Road 26 (Olive Green Marengo Fulton Road) so ODOT can rebuild the I-71 bridges over Crall Road.
The detour is SR 61 to SR 229 to County Road 26 or reverse.
