COLUMBUS – A redesign of a major East Side highway interchange is one of nearly $400 million in new construction projects made possible by an increase in the gasoline tax and approved by an Ohio Department of Transportation panel Wednesday.
ODOT’s Transportation Review Advisory Council approved $73 million for construction at the I-70/I-270 interchange on the East Side, part of an additional $398 million earmarked for major projects over the next four years, ODOT director Jack Marchbanks said.
The project was one of several greenlighted for central Ohio roadways between next year and 2022.
They include three more phases of construction on the I-71/I-70 split in downtown Columbus, the I-71/Stringtown Road interchange in Grove City, two projects to construct a new SR 36/US 37/I-71 interchange in Delaware County, widen SR 36 and make improvements to a railroad bridge. The list also includes an $11 million project to improve the SR 161/Post Road interchange in Union County.
Expected to begin in 2022, the East Side project will replace the existing loop ramp from I-270 South to I-70 East with a flyover ramp (pictured above) to reduce weaving and merging.
An eastbound lane will be added to I-70 between I-270 and Brice Road and ramps from I-270 north to I-70 east and Brice Road will also be reconfigured to address congestion and improve safety.
No major freeway improvements have been made on I-70 since the I-270 interchange was originally constructed in 1969 while traffic volumes on I-70 have increased 230 percent, Marchbanks said.
“Central Ohio drivers have been asking for improvements on the city’s east side, but the funding just wasn’t available,” said ODOT District 6 deputy director Mitch Blackford. “Thanks to the increased revenue from the recent transportation budget, we can keep our promise to taxpayers and make these much needed improvements.”
Projected growth in eastern Franklin County and in Fairfield and Licking Counties indicates that traffic volumes will grow another 50 percent over the next 20 years.
Future phases will address inbound congestion on I-70 West, replace the loop ramp from I-70 West to I-270 South with a flyover ramp, widen Brice Road, and reconfigure the ramps at Brice Road, Marchbanks said.