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The following construction projects are anticipated to affect highways in Washington and surrounding counties in the coming weeks.
All outlined work is weather permitting.
¯ I-77 resurfacing: A resurfacing project begins on April 19 on I-77 between Exits 1 and 6.
The project also includes guardrail replacement, drainage correction and concrete barrier upgrades.
The passing lanes of I-77 north and south will be closed.
Estimated completion: June 4.
¯ I-77 resurfacing: A resurfacing and concrete joint repair project is also taking place on I-77, between Exits 6 and 16.
The passing lane of I-77 north is closed.
Estimated completion: Aug. 1.
¯ City of Marietta signal/fiber optic upgrades: A traffic signal and fiber optic system project is taking place at various intersections in Marietta, including Putnam, Front, Third, Seventh, Greene, Pike and Acme Streets.
Periodic short-term daily lane closures will be in place.
Estimated completion: June 30.
¯ Ohio 60 landslide: One lane of Ohio 60 is closed 1.5 miles south of Lowell due to a landslide.
Temporary traffic signals and a 12-foot width restriction are in place.
Estimated completion: Aug. 1.
¯ Ohio 821 landslide: One lane of Ohio 821 is closed between Buells Run (Township Road 86) and Peaker Run (Township Road 327) due to a landslide.
Temporary traffic signals and an 11-foot width restriction are in place.
Estimated completion: July 1.
¯ Ohio 821 rock fall mitigation: A rock fall mitigation project begins on April 12 on Ohio 821, between Stanleyville-Narrows Road (Township Road 16) and Dunbarger Road (Township Road 318).
One lane will be closed.
Temporary traffic signals and an 11-foot width restriction will be in place.
Estimated completion: May 4.
¯ Ohio 555 bridge replacement: One lane of Ohio 555 is closed between Barton Road (Township Road 714) and Ohio 676 for a bridge replacement project.
Temporary traffic signals and an 11-foot width restriction are in place.
Estimated completion: Nov. 1.
MONROE COUNTY
¯ Ohio 78 pavement repairs: A pavement repair project begins on April 12 on Ohio 78, between Township Road 267 and Township Road 45A.
One lane will be closed and a 14-foot width restriction will be in place.
Traffic will be maintained via flaggers.
Estimated completion: April 23.
¯ Ohio 260 culvert replacement: A culvert replacement project begins on April 26 on Ohio 260, between Sandbar Road (County Road 16) and Township Road 293A.
The road will be closed.
ODOT's detour is Ohio 260 to Ohio 145 to Ohio 565.
Estimated completion: May 7.
¯ Ohio 537 landslide: One lane of Ohio 537 is closed between Township Road 307 and Pleasant Ridge Road (County Road 73) due to a landslide.
Temporary traffic signals and a 14-foot width restriction are in place.
Estimated completion: Dec. 31.
¯ Ohio 260 landslide: One lane of Ohio 260 is closed between Merrill Ridge Road (County Road 105) and Witten Creek Road (County Road 15) due to a landslide.
Temporary traffic signals and a 12-foot width restriction are in place.
Estimated completion: Nov. 1.
¯ County Road 29 bridge rehabilitation: A bridge rehabilitation project begins on May 10 on County Road 29 (Sunfish Creek Road), 0.85 miles east of Ohio 26.
The road will be closed.
The detour is Ohio 26 to Altitude Miller Hill Road (County Road 6).
Estimated completion: Oct. 30.
¯ County Road 81 landslide repair: A landslide repair project begins on April 20 on County Road 81 (Krebs Hill Road), three miles west of Ohio 7.
One lane will be closed.
Temporary traffic signals and a 10-foot width restriction will be in place.
Estimated completion: June 1.
MORGAN COUNTY
¯ Ohio 60 gas line relocation: One lane of Ohio 60 is closed one mile east of McConnelsville due to a gas line relocation project.
Temporary traffic signals and an 11-foot width restriction are in place.
Estimated completion: April 26.
¯ Ohio 376 landslide: One lane of Ohio 376 is closed 2.87 miles north of McConnelsville due to a landslide.
Temporary traffic signals and a 10-foot width restriction are in place.
Estimated completion: June 15.
NOBLE COUNTY
¯ Ohio 147 tree trimming: Ohio 147 between Ohio 566 and Ohio 313 will be closed from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., Monday through Friday.
Estimated completion: April 30, 2021
¯ Ohio 147 bridge project: A bridge deck overlay project begins on May 3 between Edgewood Road (Township Road 33) and Ohio 313.
One lane will be closed. Temporary traffic signals and an 11-foot width restriction will be in place.
Estimated completion: July 1.
STATEWIDE
The Ohio Department of Transportation plans to invest $1.92 billion into 956 projects to improve transportation across the state, including improvements to 876 bridges and 4,596 miles of pavement.
According to the state agency, 96 cents of every dollar invested will go toward making sure existing roads and bridges are in good condition and as safe as possible.
"Ohio's ability to safely and easily move people and goods is vital as we continue to recover from the global pandemic," said Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine in a press release. "As ODOT begins the 2021 construction season, there are many infrastructure projects throughout the state that will improve safety for motorists. We also need motorists to pay attention and not drive distracted, and to slow down in construction zones."
An increase in the state motor fuel tax that went into effect on July 1, 2019, afforded the funding for ODOT to keep maintenance and safety projects on schedule despite a 15.5 percent drop in traffic volume last year.
"Thanks to the foresight of Gov. DeWine and the Ohio General Assembly and internal operational savings identified by our workforce, we have been able to weather this global pandemic," said ODOT Director Jack Marchbanks. "Without those extra funds, we would be nearly a billion dollars in the red. While other states have been delaying or canceling projects, Ohio continues moving forward."
Safety remains the top priority, with a total of 266 safety projects included in this year's construction program.
Of those, 131 projects are funded through the ODOT Highway Safety Improvement Program, a total investment of $178 million.
A portion of these funds will go to local municipalities, townships and counties to make safety improvements on roads they maintain.
"Sadly, traffic deaths continued to climb last year, even with fewer vehicles on our roads," Marchbanks said. "We must continue to prioritize projects that make our roads safer for everyone who uses them."
Funding will also help target more than 150 intersections prioritized by DeWine in early 2019.
These projects include simple adjustments like changing signage and striping to more complex solutions like the full reconstruction of an intersection.
To date, 36 locations have been completed, 43 are under way or will soon begin construction this year, 101 are under design, and four are still being studied.
"We engineer our roads to be as safe as possible, but we need motorists to do their part by obeying speed limits, paying attention, buckling up and driving sober," said Marchbanks. "Please pay attention to the traffic and roads, not your phones."
With increased construction throughout the state, it's more important than ever that motorists follow Ohio's "move over law," which requires drivers to move over for any roadside vehicles with flashing lights. If they cannot move over, they must slow down.
"Drivers should always pay attention, but work zones require extra attention. Just like you, these workers want to go home at the end of the day," said Marchbanks.
There were 4,536 work zone crashes in Ohio last year. Of those, 18 crashes were fatal and 96 resulted in serious injuries. ODOT will continue to work with the Ohio State Highway Patrol for targeting enforcement of traffic laws in work zones.
Last year, ODOT crews were struck 125 times while on the job. ODOT crews have been hit 52 times already in 2021. A total of 162 ODOT workers have been killed while working to improve Ohio's roadways.