COLUMBUS, Ohio – The end of two major road construction projects on the West Side are in sight as traffic patterns are restored on I-270 between Grove City and Hilliard and final paving begins on W. Broad Street between I-270 and Georgesville Road.
Drivers will be traveling on seven miles of new pavement when an $80 million project to rebuild every lane of I-270 from U.S. Route 62 to Roberts Road winds up by before Nov. 1, Ohio Department of Transportation officials said.
The project also widened 11 bridges and reconstructed the entrance and exit ramps at Georgesville Road, Broad Street and I-70.
This was the first major rehabilitation of this section of I-270 since it was constructed more than 50 years ago.
Seven miles of concrete barrier and cross over traffic patterns have to be removed to get motorists on the new surface and in their permanent traffic pattern.
Since the W. Broad Street project began five months ago, the roadway has been widened from four lanes to six. New shoulders, curbs, sidewalks and medians have been constructed, along with new traffic signals, lighting and landscaping, according to ODOT.
More than a dozen property owners on W. Broad Street donated land for the widening project, ODOT officials say.
The widening of Broad Street and the resurfacing of I-270 are two of four road projects that have plagued West Side motorists for months.
Area business people hope they will improve traffic and bring more customers to the neighborhood surrounding the Hollywood Casino Columbus at W. Broad Street and Georgesville Road.
The City of Columbus is improving Broad Street east of Georgesville Road and Franklin County is doing the same to Georgesville Road.
The paving operation will impact traffic on W. Broad Street:
Starting Monday, W. Broad St. will be reduced to one lane in each direction from I-270 to just east of Georgesville Rd. between 8 a.m. and dusk for paving operations. During peak travel times in the morning and late afternoon, ODOT officials say crews will do their best to accommodate travel and have as many lanes as possible open.
Weather permitting, the paving is expected to be complete October 28.