COLUMBUS – Two major highway construction projects are entering new phases, which will mean some temporary changes in traffic patterns for two major interstates in Columbus.
Crews will shift downtown traffic on I-70 westbound into its final configuration overnight Sunday so, in order to shift the lanes and remove overhead signs, I-70 westbound will close at the Miller/Kelton exit from 7:00 pm. Sunday until 5:00 a.m. Monday, according to Ohio Department of Transportation spokeswoman Breanna Badanes.
Traffic will still be able to access the ramps to I-71 north and I-670 west and to SR 315 southbound. The Mound Street ramp will also be maintained, Badanes said.
By Monday morning, drivers will once again have two thru lanes for I-70 westbound at the I-71 East Split.
Meanwhile, in the West Side construction zone, crews will complete the necessary work to open four lanes of I-270 south between Tuttle Crossing Blvd. and I-70.
Friday night’s work to open four lanes of I-270 south was cancelled due to weather, which means crews will work Sunday and Monday night, weather permitting, but Badanes says drivers will have an extra southbound lane available for the Monday morning commute.
From Friday night to Saturday morning, I-270 southbound will be reduced to one lane from north of Cemetery Road to I-70 and the ramps to and from Cemetery Road and Roberts Road will be closed.
The workers will turn their attention to the northern leg of the Outerbelt Sunday night. From 8:00 p.m. Sunday until 5:00 a.m. Monday, Badanes says I-270 southbound will be reduced to one lane from Tuttle Crossing Boulevard to Cemetery Road and the ramps from I-270 south to Tuttle Crossing and from Tuttle Crossing to I-270 southbound will be closed.
Four lanes of I-270 north are already open between Roberts Road and US 33 and Badanes says ODOT expects to open all lanes by the end of the year.
Next year, crews will be back to pave the surface layer of asphalt and install permanent striping, all part of a project to widen and resurface I-270 in both directions between Trabue Road and US 33 and to rebuild some interchanges.