First-of-a-kind West Side interchange ready to reopen

COLUMBUS, Ohio – Motorists on the West Side will see fewer orange barrels next week as some major construction projects are completed, including the I-270/Roberts Road interchange (above).

The first “diverging diamond” interchange in Ohio will open after the afternoon rush hour on Monday at I-270 and Roberts Road near Hilliard, Ohio Department of Transportation spokeswoman Brianna Watzka said.

The reopening of the bridges comes as the rebuilding of I-270 between Grove City and Roberts Road and the resurfacing of W. Broad Street also near completion.

Roberts Road, closed to traffic in both directions since late July during construction, is opening nearly a week ahead of schedule, says Ferzan Ahmed, ODOT District 6 Deputy Director.

The rebuild of the interchange, which averages just over 100 crashes a year, will cost an estimated an estimated $9.7 million, according to the Ohio Department of Transportation.

The redesign calls for switching traffic to the opposite sides of Roberts Road as it passes over the interstate and replacing cloverleaf entrance ramps to I-270 with ramps that are free-flow turns.