North Side Fix gets boost

COLUMBUS, Ohio – Construction should begin this year on the next phases of work on interchanges along the North Outer Belt after a state council approved funds that will accelerate start dates for those projects.

READ MORE: In The Columbus Dispatch

The Transportation Review Advisory Council approved about $2.4 billion in state funding yesterday for construction projects slated to start through 2026.

The new priority list formalizes the Ohio Department of Transportation’s plans to jumpstart the final two phases of work on the northern section of I-270 and earmarks state money for several other large construction projects across the state and region (see partial list below).

The I-270/US 23 Interchange has been identified as the third most congested interchange in Central Ohio. This project will make the interchange safer by increasing capacity and improving traffic flow. -Artist rendering courtesy ODOT
The North Side Fix project will increase capacity and improve traffic flow on the North Outer Belt at US 23 and SR 315. This is an artist’s rendering of how it will look when complete. -Courtesy ODOT

Those phases are part of the North Side Fix, a three-stage plan to relieve congestion on I-270 that began with the reconstruction of the U.S. route 23 interchange. That leg should be finished next year.

Work will start this year on the other two projects, which will reconfigure lanes in both directions of I-270 between U.S. 23 and state Route 315 and upgrade the interchange at SR 315.

A trench, due to open next year, will carry two express lanes for US 23 north. -Photo courtesy ODOT
Part of the North Side Fix is a trench, still under construction, which will carry two express lanes for US 23 north. -Photo courtesy ODOT

Together, those projects will cost about $75 million, but that could be reduced by at least $1 million as the state attempts to sell them as a single project.

“This will eliminate competing construction contractors,” said Scott Phinney, who oversees ODOT’s statewide planning and research department. “This will shorten construction duration.”

Originally, the two projects weren’t supposed to begin for several years, but a federal windfall of funds that other states didn’t use on construction projects allowed ODOT to move up their start date. They should be finished in 2017.

Other projects approved by the TRAC:
Central Ohio: Constructing a new interchange at state Route 16 and Cherry Valley Road in Licking County

Additional projects:
Adding a third lane on I-70 from U.S. Route 68 and state Route 72 in Clark County
Reconstructing I-70 at U.S. Route 40 and state Route 331 in Belmont County
Upgrading the interchange at I-71 and Western Row Road in Warren County

Projects currently underway:
Portsmouth Bypass in southeast Ohio
MLK Boulevard interchange in southwest Ohio
Widening of I-75 in northwest Ohio
Expansion of I-80 in eastern Ohio
Innerbelt Bridge in Cleveland
Opportunity Corridor in Cleveland