COLUMBUS – Getting into Columbus from Delaware County should be a lot easier Monday morning as a major milestone in the I-270/U.S. 23 interchange project known as the North Side Fix is reached, leading to the opening of additional traffic lanes.
At the same time, drivers in the Polaris area will have to deal with a detour because of a month-long road closing that is part of a larger project at I-71 and Gemini Parkway.
By the start of the Monday morning commute, three southbound traffic lanes will be open on US 23 southbound traffic from Flint Road to Campus View Boulevard and four lanes will be open from Campus View to I-270, Ohio Department of Transportation spokeswoman Nancy Burton said.
This will also create separate exit lanes for traffic trying to get to I-270: One lane southbound traffic headed to I-270 west, and another lane for southbound traffic trying to go east.
The $78 million makeover of one of the busiest freeway interchanges in central Ohio began in 2013, and is expected to be complete at the end of next month.
Work continues on the project at I-270 and State Route 315, set to be complete late next year, Burton said.
In southern Delaware County, a portion of Worthington Road will close north of E. Powell Road for a month as part of the construction of the new Gemini Parkway, ODOT officials said.
The detour is Worthington Road to Africa Road to Polaris Parkway to Worthington Road or reverse (see map).
Crews will be building a new alignment of Powell Road and the intersection with Worthington Road.
The project, due to be completed in October, will add turn lanes to both roads.
There will be another closure of Worthington Road at Polaris Parkway and of Powell Road at Worthington later this summer, ODOT officials said.