COLUMBUS – The state is about to hit the gas on nearly $300 million worth of highway projects that had slowed down during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Ohio Department of Transportation’s Transportation Review Advisory Council, known as TRAC, this week granted final approval to a list of projects to receive funding from ODOT’s Major New Capacity Program over the next four years.
The $292 million in new funding includes at least $82.6 million for projects in central Ohio between 2022 and 2025, the largest of which is a $73 million commitment to improve the I-70/I-270 interchange on the Far East Side and $38.5 million to continue improvements to the I-70/Brice Road interchange.
“Our economy depends on smart investments that make our transportation system safe and efficient. The projects approved today will keep our economy moving forward,” Gov. Mike DeWine said
The Major new Capacity program resumed after being paused in 2020 when traffic volumes across the state dipped significantly leading to a decline in revenue from the motor fuel tax, ODOT director Jack Marchbanks said.
Additional funding has been approved for improvements to the I-270/US 23 interchange on the South Side.