COLUMBUS – Drivers who have been suffering through the dust and delays on the North Side will get to try out one of the new features of the redesigned I-270/US 23 interchange, even if it doesn’t mean an end to construction in the area.
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The Ohio Department of Transportation is planning to open the state’s first “trench,” designed to carry two express lanes of U.S. 23 northbound traffic through the busy interchange, before Thursday morning’s commute.
The interchange is one of the busiest in central Ohio and the trench was the most attractive options for relieving it, improving safety and increasing its capacity.
“The communities did not want giant flyover ramps so that was not an option, and neither was buying property…The trench was the best way to fix this interchange,” said ODOT District 6 Deputy Director Ferzan Ahmed.
While there is still cosmetic work to be performed on the trench walls along with final paving and striping, ODOT officials say the ¾-mile-long, 25-foot deep trench, which dives under U.S. 23 just north of the interchange, will be fully functioning.
There is still more than a year’s worth of work to be done on the total makeover of the interchange, which is projected to cost $75 million and is not scheduled to be completed until next fall.
The new U.S. 23 bridge over I-270 has to be completed along with construction of new ramps from I-270 to U.S. 23 and an additional southbound lane.