April 23, 200520 yr One thing that pays economic dividends for Ohio today (while so many other things are faltering) is Ohio's location as a "crossroads". Certainly this is true... isn't Columbus a big distribution center for a lot of stuff? Even so, I-73 would not be a highway on the order of 70, 80, 90, or 75, each of which provides direct or indirect access to many different regions and markets. This one is only going to go to one region that is not already accessible by the major interstates. It's furthermore not going to facilitate access to most of Ohio (from what I can tell, very little for SW Ohio and not at all for NE Ohio). I don't doubt that having this road in Ohio would be useful or beneficial in some way; it just doesn't sound like the benefits would quite be enough to justify making such a big undertaking a priority in the near future. (I'm talking here only about connecting to the Carolinas; Toledo to Columbus is a different story.)
April 23, 200520 yr One thing I haven't seen mentioned is that the often-talked about expansion of Columbus' Rickenbacker Airfield into a multimodal transportation center is tied to improved access to the southeast....via rail. Norfolk Southern and the federal government are working together on a project to improve NS's mainline between Columbus, Portsmouth, Roanoke near where it splits, with one route heading east to the port at Norfolk and the other continuing south to Charlotte, Atlanta and beyond. The improvements include adding a second or third tracks where they are lacking, and enlarging mountain tunnels so double-stack container trains can fit through them. While it's a expensive project, it will cost less than a new highway, yet carry more freight than can be handled by trucks over a six-lane highway and it will do so with greater efficiency in the use of fuel and labor (which is in extremely short supply in the trucking industry). The rail project tied to Rickenbacker should be a big boon to Columbus' distribution-based economy. KJP "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
April 23, 200520 yr "who says public demand for the road can change the position of highway officials in those two states. Residents of Ohio and Michigan are frequent visitors to the S.C. coast, and they probably will pressure their officials to complete the road to the north when it appears definite that the southern part of the route will be built." Would 73 really be that convenient for Ohioans travelling to South Carolina? It seems that I-77 does a good enough job of that. I doubt that there will be a public demand by Ohio vacationers to chop an hour or two off travel time to Myrtle Beach.
May 2, 200520 yr This project appears to still be on the radar as far as TRAC's 2006-2011 program goes. Apparently, they are still completing feasibility studies as well as enviromental studies. It's "Tier II", meaning "to be continued for some stage of development"--in other words, not imminent.
May 3, 200520 yr If/when this is built, there would still would be a 12-mile gap in the four-lane, limited access portion of US62 from Alliance to Salem. The remaining segment of 2-lane US62 will suffice, but it's still slow going, especially in Alliance, near Mount Union College. There's lots of sprawl-type development and resultant traffic on the south side of Alliance. Other than than, US62 is one barren roadway! KJP "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
May 3, 200520 yr I wouldn't know...I was hoping MayDay might enlighten us since he grew up there. I can't picture it. When I did a Google search of this I came across a poll from the Salem newspaper asking people if they thought this connector would ever be built. Sixty percent said no.
May 23, 200520 yr It seems like every time I go through Sharonville on Reading Rd., I get stuck at this horribly configured at-grade Conrail train crossing. Well, since 2000, a study by engineering firm Gannet Fleming has been underway to try to alleviate the problem. Here's the background: http://www.sharonville.org/--->click on the "NEWS" link at the bottom of the page--->"RR_Grade_Separation.pdf". The "eastern loop" proposal was chosen and is expected to cost around $10.7M. In November, the city signed a resolution authorizing this option. No word when construction will start. Here's a pic. The north-south road is Reading Rd., and the one that veers to the right is Lebanon Rd. (US-42). I-275 runs across the top. The RR crossing is in the area that will be closed to through traffic. Depot Square ("downtown" Sharonville) would be "below" the photo.
May 24, 200520 yr Interesting. That crossing is on the proposed routing for 3-C Corridor (Cleveland - Columbus - Cincinnati via Dayton) passenger rail service, as envisioned in the Ohio Hub Study. That grade separation project would count toward the state's share of helping to start the 3-C service, since projects like this would be needed to start a safe, fast passenger service anyway. And, by the way, Sharonville is proposed to be a suburban station stop for the 3-C route. KJP "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
May 24, 200520 yr Thanks for the info. I'm always behind on the 3-C news. Could you point me to where I could find out more info on the Sharonville idea specifically?
May 24, 200520 yr Which Sharonville idea? For a 3-C station/service? KJP "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
May 25, 200520 yr The Ohio Hub Study isn't at the level yet where they would start identifying specific locations for stations, only general areas where they might be located (ie: downtown Cincinnati, North Cincinnati, etc). See map below. However, in the mid-1990s, a consultant for the Ohio Rail Development Commission did a preliminary review of potential station sites along the 3-C Corridor. The consultant suggested a suburban station on the north side of Cincinnati should be located in the vicinity of Conrail's (now NS's) Sharonville Yard, located north of Route 126. The yard isn't used much anymore, and may avail some land. In fact, there was a separate Conrail access track to the west of the current mainline that could be used for a passenger-only track with a station on that. The abandoned track is visible in the picture shown in the earlier message in this string, with the right of way running through the red "Draft" text in the image. Anyway here's the map, which available from the following page on ORDC's website: http://www.dot.state.oh.us/ohiorail/Programs/Passenger/Ohio%20Hub%20Page.htm KJP "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
May 25, 200520 yr That wouldn't be a bad location for a station, though it's away from the Sharonville Convention Center and the hotels by quite a bit and away from the large jobs/hotel center of Blue Ash. In fact, that area seems to be between good places for a stop IMHO. I'll take a look at a map and see what my ideas would be.
June 13, 200520 yr So I guess they are widening I-74to 3 lanes each way from where it splits off I-275 all the way to the Indiana border. Where did this money come from? I had no idea this was ever in the works. Any insight would be appreciated!
June 13, 200520 yr As far aa i know they are only doing the duplex of I-74-I-275 to 4 lanes each way. And the ramp meters at the interchanges from I-275-I-75. They are installing them later this year from what I last heard.
June 13, 200520 yr No, they're definitely widening the entire stretch out to Indiana. Right now, they're widening a bridge that crosses over New Biddinger Road in Harrison. They have orange barrels along the entire stretch. Currently, the New Haven bridge is being widened to 6 lanes and I didn't know if this money was opened up in conjuction with that project. I never heard about any plans to widen the area where I-275 and I-74 are combined. That would be nice as well, although I don't think it is needed!
June 14, 200520 yr I just went to the ODOT web site and they are only widening the shoulders from 4 feet to 10 feet.
June 15, 200520 yr Really? Well that isn't the conventional wisdom around here (but who can trust these Harrison folk) plus it seems a bit extensive to redo the entire bridge where I-74 crosses over New Biddinger Rd. just for a few feet of widening the shoulders!
July 16, 200519 yr I know that we don't talk much about NW Ohio on here, but this is a huge project for the region. In fact, this is the largest project ever for ODOT District 1. This will relieve the areas where the two-lane highway is outdated an dangerous, and should open up the areas to economic development. It will also allow people to drive on a four-lane U.S. 30 all the way from the Indiana state line to Canton. Here's a press release from May...I'll have more later: TAFT BREAKS GROUND ON NEW SECTION OF U.S. 30 $98.8 Million Project Completes Route In Northwest Ohio ADA (May 13, 2005) – Governor Bob Taft today broke ground on a new section of U.S. Route 30 that will run between State Route 235 in Hancock County and the Upper Sandusky bypass in Wyandot County. The new section will complete the upgrade of U.S. 30 to a four-lane route in northwest Ohio. Taft was joined by Congressman Michael G. Oxley, Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) Director Gordon Proctor and ODOT District 1 Deputy Director Norman R. Redick. “This stretch of highway is the last link to completing U.S. 30 in northwest Ohio,” said Taft. “The upgrade will address safety and congestion issues and open this area to economic advancement by providing a safer, more efficient means of travel for motorists and freight shipments.” The existing two-lane section of U.S. 30 is outdated and overburdened with traffic. Truck traffic alone has grown by 63 percent over the last 10 years and makes up more than half of the traffic along this section of U.S. 30. The new four-lane section will be wider and safer with medians, wider shoulders and ramps to control access and manage ever-growing traffic volumes. The U.S. 30 upgrade is indicative of projects supported by Taft’s Jobs and Progress Plan. The Jobs and Progress Plan, unveiled in 2003, is a $5 billion, 10-year plan to rebuild Ohio’s urban interstate networks, address high-crash locations and complete the state’s rural macro-corridors, like U.S. 30. This is the first Jobs and Progress project to break ground in northwest Ohio. “The completion of U.S. 30 through northwest Ohio marks the end of a 40-year plan to expand the route,” Proctor said. “It is a significant step toward rebuilding Ohio’s stressed transportation network, and reinforces the governor’s commitment to improve the state’s business climate by opening new economic development opportunities.” The 26-mile, limited-access, four-lane highway will be constructed on a new alignment one-half mile south of the existing route. It includes interchanges at SR 235, U.S. Route 68 and State Route 37 in Hancock County, and at County Road 330 in Wyandot County. When this section of U.S. 30 is completed in 2007 and a section of U.S. 30 in Crawford and Wayne counties is completed later this year, motorists will be able to travel a four-lane U.S. 30 from the Indiana state line to Canton. Projects to upgrade the remaining sections of U.S. 30 in Stark, Carroll and Columbiana counties are in the planning phases. Information about these projects is available at: http://www.dot.state.oh.us/us30/. http://www.dot.state.oh.us/news/2005/05-13-05Gov.htm
July 16, 200519 yr I'm sure all the cows and cornfields in NW Ohio will appreciate the economic development, but why don't we focus ED dollars where there are already the greatest number of people needing jobs?
July 16, 200519 yr It's already overburdened with truck traffic, and it's being battered to death and is considered unsafe. There are claims about too many fatal accidents, but I haven't seen any numbers about that. It seems like every community gets up in arms if there's just one fatal accident. I don't know the cost/benefit ratios or anything like that, and I can't really answer the question you posed. I do know that this project has been around since the 1960s and other pieces of the puzzle (albeit shorter segments) have already been completed. This is one of those projects that got neglected for a long time due to lack of funding. It would be interesting to get the opinion of people who live along the US-30 corridor and see what their perspectives are.
July 16, 200519 yr Good news, very good news. NW Ohio is getting another expressway too. US 24 will be an expressway for 25 miles SW of Toledo, and a 4 lane parkway beyond that to Ft. Wayne.
July 21, 200519 yr Two road projects considered Ohio 4 bypass, lanes for I-74, 275 on to-do list By Dan Klepal Only two new improvement projects for Southwest Ohio roads are being considered this year by an agency that must approve them before state tax dollars start flowing to help pay for the work. The projects - a $32.8 million widening of Ohio 4 bypass in Butler County that skirts east of Hamilton and Fairfield, and building an additional lane in each direction where Interstates 74 and 275 merge in Hamilton County for $189.3 million - won't be funded until 2011. http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050721/NEWS01/507210360/1056
August 2, 200519 yr I remember going to Fostoria when my friend moved there and finding getting through it to be sort of maddening. From the 8/2/05 Toledo Blade (not much current info on ODOT's site...Magyar to the rescue!): Federal road bill has almost $7M for Fostoria loop FOSTORIA - City officials are celebrating the inclusion of nearly $7 million in the recently passed federal highway bill to help build a "loop road" around Fostoria. Mayor John Davoli said yesterday he had learned from U.S. Rep. Paul Gillmor (R., Old Fort) that $6.96 million for the project had remained in the final version of the legislation that Congress approved last week. The loop road would carry trucks and other through traffic on U.S. 23, State Rt. 199, and State Rt. 12 around Fostoria instead of through the city's maze of zig-zagging streets. Mr. Davoli said city records show discussion of building such a road as early as 1961. http://www.toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050802/NEWS11/508020374/-1/NEWS
August 3, 200519 yr I'm not sure if there's much need for this. The Toledo-Columbus traffic does not go through this portion of U.S. 23. Also, right nearby is I-75 in Findlay.
August 3, 200519 yr It seems like every article I see about this is from the Myrtle Beach Sun News. This one's from 8/3/05: PROPOSED PATHS WATCHING AND WAITING A route full of speed bumps Not all states dedicated to road By Zane Wilson, The Sun News Two million vehicles a year rumble over the 2.8-mile International Bridge that connects Sault Ste. Marie, Mich., with Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario. Beneath the bridge, huge ships crunch into the locks that will carry them over the rapids between Lake Superior and Lake Huron. It is at this crossroad of international traffic, trade and commerce where Interstate 73 will begin - or end, depending on your perspective. I-73, currently in the planning stage for a route in South Carolina, is designated to connect Sault Ste. Marie, Mich., and Myrtle Beach. The road was designated in 1991, but so far, little of it has been built. North Carolina is the only state that has built part of the road, and South Carolina is working on a route for its 60-mile portion. The $2 billion S.C. section is slated to be open by 2014. When, and if, the rest of it ever is finished is still an open question. But if the road is available, people who live in Virginia, West Virginia and Ohio said they would come to Myrtle Beach, and come more often. MORE: http://www.myrtlebeachonline.com/mld/myrtlebeachonline/news/local/12289658.htm
August 3, 200519 yr Can't comfirm dates or drawings/plans (because I don't know) But when I-73 was being debated 10 years ago, the plan was to route I-73 down US 23 and bypass Fostoria to the east. The Fostoria By-pass has shown up on several level 2 catigories for ODOT spending since then.
August 3, 200519 yr There is a good reason why you're seeing articles from the Myrtle Beach Sun Times. They are part of the local community championing the construction of I-73. Zane Wilson e-mailed back in June (the day before I left Columbus to go back "south") about my I-73 pages (Zane-Why haven't you updated them in so long? San-Because nothing is going on north of the Ohio River, and I've moved on to other projects) and mentioned that he was doing a roadtrip scouting out I-73. So there you go. Maybe I should tell him about Fostoria.
August 4, 200519 yr I came across an article where they were showing two plans to the public. One was around the western edge of the city and the other was to the east, which is apparently the one they settled on. These public hearings were in 1996. I found a couple of articles and it will take me a while to get through them. I'd like to find a map of the proposal or at least a good enough description that I could draw a crude one.
August 4, 200519 yr I think ODOT is doing a pretty good job overall developing parrellel road networks throughout the state, instead of just adding lanes to a few major highways which is the strategy of choice in the sunbelt. This way there's more connectivity, and fewer comically wide 14 lane roads.
August 4, 200519 yr Jeez, from the sound of it, people from all over the rural, lightly populated areas of southern Ohio, WV, and Michigan are just clamoring to go to Myrtle Beach in droves. And I will say it one more time. If the government wants to spur economic growth, why don't they do it where the most people needing jobs are?
August 4, 200519 yr The section between Bucyrus and Ontario (outside of Mansfield) is now four-lanes and is open to traffic. From the 8/4/05 Mansfield News Journal: U.S. 30 stretch goes four lanes, finally News Journal staff report ONTARIO -- It finally happened this morning: Bucyrus and Ontario are linked by a four-lane U.S. 30. Crestline traffic jams were history at 9 a.m., as the flood of east-west traffic poured onto the long awaited road that passes between Crestline and Galion and connects with the Bucyrus bypass of U.S. 30. Ohio Department of Transportation officials gathered atop a new bridge over East Mansfield Street in Bucyrus to cut the ribbon. More at: http://www.mansfieldnewsjournal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050804/NEWS01/508040323/1002
August 4, 200519 yr A map for Grasscat. http://www.roadfan.com/i73awf1.html For the Columbus contingent, the report where I got this from should still be sitting at the Columbus Public Library (main branch) in the Biography-Travel Section.
August 4, 200519 yr It took me a minute to realize that map was tilted to the side! That looks like it goes a LOT farther east of Fostoria than I expected.
August 5, 200519 yr Wow, this will be great for downtown Fostoria's businesses. Oh wait, I forgot that economic development only means gas stations, Wal-marts, and 500,000 sq ft/ 20 minimum-wage-employee warehouses. Yay for Ohio. Road to the future, and all that.
August 25, 200519 yr Bringing this thread back from the background. I recieved the following e-mail today from a Brad Dean (in SC): We exchanged emails a while back regarding I-73 ... you provided some information that was very helpful. Thought you might be interested to learn that we were successful in getting a 'priority' status for I-73 in the recent transportation bill. When the President signed that bill a couple of weeks ago, I-73 became a Corridor of "National and Regional Significance". We were able to secure $81 million for our leg --- a drop in the bucket of what will be needed, but a good start for a project that was seemingly dead. The priority status should also help secure additional funds. It still seems that this project is dead, or dying, in Ohio and Michigan but perhaps DOT officials in those two states will now see this as an opportunity? Obviously he states what we've mentioned above, any other comments towards his last question?
August 25, 200519 yr so i finally read this thread........ the myrtle article indicates that I-73 woudl go to soo? Doesn't I-75 already handle all traffic from michigan to all point southern ontario (and I-69)? did i miss something? is there a map or something to clarify myself (i skimmed but didn't find a map)
August 25, 200519 yr I seem to recall that one reason ODOT put the proposed I-73 on the back burner is that when they held a few public meetings in Marion, Delaware and Franklin counties, the opposition to even the idea of taking all of that land brought such outrage from farmers and other landowners that ODOT quietly folded its tent and just dropped the plan. It never even made it to the FRONT burner much less brought to low simmer. Even ODOT's Gordon proctor has stated publically that trying to build new lanes of interstate on land not already owned by the state is prohibitively expensive to buy and become even more expensive as one would go through making all kinds of environmental mitigations.
September 1, 200519 yr From the 8/30/05 Salem News: ODOT: Projects not in competition By LARRY SHIELDS/Salem New staff writer SALEM - Two major, local highway projects are not competing with each other, according to the Ohio Department of Transportation. Nor are they mutually exclusive, said Lindsay Mendicino, an ODOT spokesperson. ODOT looks at economic scores and other factors rather than geography, she said, explaining the studies determine if an area will be helped or hurt, by transportation improvements. ... Larry Shields can be reached at [email protected] http://salemnews.net/news/story/0830202005_new04odot.asp
September 6, 200519 yr This project has been in the works for 10 years and is expected to both alleviate traffic on the overburdened US-50 and to spur economic development in the Belpre/Parkersburg, WV area. This tied arch bridge will be the longest bridge in West Virginia at apporximately 4,000 feet. The project will cost $120 million and is expected to take 30-36 months to complete. Closeup of span: North elevation: Pier 3, Ohio: West Virginia abutment: Photo of crossing area: http://www.wvcorridord.com/index.html
September 6, 200519 yr From the 8/23/05 AP: Work begins on Ohio River bridge piers Associated Press PARKERSBURG, W.Va. - Pier work has begun on Blennerhassett Island for a bridge that will carry motorists across the Ohio River on U.S. 50. Walsh Construction Co. of Chicago is preparing to pour concrete for piers that will rest in the river. The project is the largest single highway contract in West Virginia history at $119.9 million. http://www.ohio.com/mld/beaconjournal/12454170.htm
October 1, 200519 yr From the 9/27/05 Salem News: Route 62 extension still years down road By MARY ANN GREIER/Salem News staff writer SALEM - The extension of U.S. Route 62 from Alliance to state Route 11 remains years down the road, but one panelist at an informational meeting Tuesday said it will get built - sooner or later. "I want to give you a little glimmer of hope on this project," said John Getchey, executive director of Eastgate Regional Council of Governments in Youngstown. Getchey was one of three panelists who spoke at the session hosted by the Salem Area Chamber of Commerce at the Salem Community Center. Eastgate Director of Transportation Kathleen Rodi and Paul Jaeger, technical director of the Stark County Area Transportation Study, also spoke. ... Mary Ann Greier can be reached at [email protected] http://salemnews.net/news/story/0927202005_new03route.asp
October 1, 200519 yr From the 9/28/05 AP: Fort-Wayne-Toledo connection included in highway plan Associated Press FORT WAYNE, Ind. - A mostly new U.S. 24 will connect Fort Wayne to Toledo, Ohio, by 2012 at a cost of $300 million, officials said. Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels included money for the project in the 10-year, $10.6 billion highway plan he announced Monday. Indiana plans to pay about $123 million for its portion of the 90-mile project. ... http://www.ohio.com/mld/beaconjournal/news/state/12758872.htm
October 2, 200519 yr Ryan got that junky Hubbard connector in. But this 11-62 connector is nice. I hate driving to Canton at night on 62. This will make me get there in 40 minutes with some form of light and its safer.... I can't wait!
October 2, 200519 yr The Toledo-Fort Wayne-Chicago leg of both the proposed Ohio Hub and Midwest Hiigh Speed Rail passenger rail plans would also roughly parallel this route. Two of the planned highway overpasses for the "Fort to Port" US 24 project would go over the Maumee & Western RR tracks along this route. Given that the "Fort to Port" route is going to be heavily used by trucks, having a parallel rail line will be a nice option to driving the car for many travelers.
October 3, 200519 yr Ryan got that junky Hubbard connector in. But this 11-62 connector is nice. I hate driving to Canton at night on 62. This will make me get there in 40 minutes with some form of light and its safer.... I can't wait! What's so junky about the Hubbard connector? And I guess on-coming headlights can be considered a form of light.
October 3, 200519 yr The Toledo-Fort Wayne-Chicago leg of both the proposed Ohio Hub and Midwest Hiigh Speed Rail passenger rail plans would also roughly parallel this route. Two of the planned highway overpasses for the "Fort to Port" US 24 project would go over the Maumee & Western RR tracks along this route. Given that the "Fort to Port" route is going to be heavily used by trucks, having a parallel rail line will be a nice option to driving the car for many travelers. For all 100 travelers (with orgin/destination being Fort Wayne & Toledo)
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