COLUMBUS – Spring weather is bringing a new crop of orange barrels to western Franklin County as a months-long widening project begins on I-270 between Dublin and Hilliard.
If your weekend plans include travel on I-270 on the West Side, you will be impacted.
UPDATE: Planned work on I-270 on the East Side is cancelled for the weekend. The work on I-270 West Side is cancelled for tonight, but not for Saturday night.
As part of the $59 million project to widen the Outer Belt from three lanes to four, using the inside median, over an eight-mile stretch between U.S. 33 in Dublin and Trabue Road, traffic will be shifted to a temporary configuration which also includes placement of several digital signs notifying drivers of the changing speed limits inside the work zone.
“Utilizing variable speed is another way to keep workers and motorists safe in this eight mile work zone. Despite construction, drivers on I-270 will still have the same number of travel lanes. When workers are present, however, the speed limit will be reduced,” said Jack Marchbanks, ODOT District 6 Deputy Director. “
STARTING THIS WEEKEND: Drivers take notice, speed limits will vary on I-270 between Dublin and Trabue Road. https://t.co/dFiKjKyirz pic.twitter.com/LbgcPUFlDc
— ODOT Columbus (@ODOT_Columbus) April 24, 2017
Areas of I-270 with an original speed limit of 65 mph will have a small reduction in speed even though workers are not present because the travel conditions include narrower travel lanes and portable concrete barrier.
When lights are flashing on the digital speed limit signs, workers are present and the speed limit will be further reduced.
The digital speed limit signs will be placed in several locations along north and southbound I-270.
Lawmakers enabled ODOT to establish “variable work zone speed limits” in 2012. Under the law, the director of ODOT can establish reduced speed limits based on the type of work and time of day to improve safety for the public and construction workers without imposing unnecessary travel delays during non-working periods.
The portable speed limit signs do not use radar or any other technology to record or collect speeds but are only programmed to post the speed limit in a construction work zone and flash lights intermittently.
Marchbanks says drivers should be mindful of the signs and always obey the posted speed limit.
The project is expected to be complete fall of 2018.