100 travelers a day between Toledo & Fort Wayne?  I'll take that any day over 100 more cars on the road.  But you're assuming Fort Wayne is an end point.  As I said earlier, this would be a Toledo-Fort Wayne-Chicago route and the ohio Hub projections for that route are much higher.

100 travelers a day between Toledo & Fort Wayne?  I'll take that any day over 100 more cars on the road.  But you're assuming Fort Wayne is an end point.  As I said earlier, this would be a Toledo-Fort Wayne-Chicago route and the ohio Hub projections for that route are much higher.

 

You think 100 passengers a day would keep a train operation afloat?!?

You're hyping the Fort to Port part, so I commented on that. 

 

From the 10/4/05 Defiance Crescent-News:

 

 

ODOT plans to bid U.S. 24 improvements

By TODD HELBERG

[email protected]

 

Defiance’s proposed connector road between West High Street and Ralston Avenue won’t be the only thing being built in that area next year.

 

Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) officials plan to bid that project along with several others that will usher in the long-planned widening of U.S. 24. Bids will be sought on Jan. 19 for not only the connector road’s construction but U.S. 24 improvements between Ohio 424 and the Ohio 15/18 interchange, according to ODOT’s Kirk Slusher.

 

...

 

http://www.crescent-news.com/article.php?pathToFile=/archive/10042005/news/&file=_news1.txt&article=1&tD=10042005

 

Does anybody know about this?  :?  They say it started in 2003 and will be done next year, but I can't find any information on it at all.

 

 

The bridge consists of six approach spans on the West Virginia side and 2 spans on the Ohio side consisting of precast concrete girders on I-beams.  The main span and two back-spans over the Ohio River total 1163' in length.  These spans are supported by cable stays coming from two towers founded on drilled shafts and rising approximately 250' above the river.

 

 

Nice looking bridge. What is that road coming up on the right side of the rendering? It looks like another ramp and ends in a weird fashion.

 

No I have no info grasscat, I've never even heard of Pomeroy.

I don't know.  There are two roads there now, one of which is OH-7.  It looked like they dead-ended the old OH-7 and then rerouted it along the adjacent street.  This creates an odd intersection and I have no idea why they would do that.

 

Now you see why I'm asking for help here!

when i went through the area last year there was construction on a bridge and is where 33 and oh7 cross the river...

 

http://www.dot.state.oh.us/dist10/

http://www.buckeyetraffic.org/webcams/nosvg/result.asp?p=3&sid=41

 

being built just on the opposite side of the bridge in this crappy :lol: pic

 

 

and here is another rendering, looking north from above WV.

http://www.ace-plc.com/MEG_PomeroyMason.htm

 

there it kinda looks like the road coming up that looks like another ramp is either not there or turns away

 

or here, http://www.roadfan.com/33meigs.html

 

maybe just wait til magyar sees the thread, hahaha

Ok, what am I supposed to answer?

On that drawing, Ohio is on the right and WVa is on the left.  Oh 7 will go under the bridge and the connector road from the bridge loops to Oh 7.

 

And ODOT has a webcam on the project for District 10.

Anyone know what the status is on this? I have not heard anything since the story broke.

Hum...I am open to investigating the idea, but wonder if it wouldn't be better to at least have one of the traffic lights run hung over the ramp so that cars farther back could see. Your first time you might not be able to tell traffic has stopped. When I get on a ramp I start to accelerate, I need warning that I will need to stop. Otherwise it may be a nice thought.

That's a good observation inkaelin.  We've got the same kind of ramp meters here in Columbus and most drivers seem to either ignore them or don't notice them.  Visibility may very well be a factor. 

 

On the rare times I've seen them observed, they do seem to work in terms of slowing merging traffic down before they hit the main traffic stream.  Your idea for overhead lights might not be a bad suiggestion to forward on to ODOT.

Thanks. You brought up an interesting point that people may not even follow them, and on busy stretches the cops would be unable safely to catch most of these people.

 

Does anyone else think $350,000 sounds like a lot for a couple traffic lights and control box?

Don't these things usually have "ramp metered when flashing" signs at the beginning of the ramp?  Of course, those could be easier to miss or ignore than an actual traffic light, especially if you're not used to them.  I think that people would follow the signals, assuming they see them, because people are generally obedient when it comes to traffic lights (most people stop for a red light even when there's nobody around, after all).  I'd bet that the more likely thing would be for people to ignore the "one car per green" rule.

 

They have some of these things in Madison, as mentioned in the original article.  I've never seen them in action, though, as I've avoided driving through them at the "right" time of day.  I'm amazed at the volume of highway traffic this place has, given that it is a small city.  I guess it's at least partly due to the geography of the city, which forces everybody to take one of only two or three paths to get through town, around the lakes.

Dayton actually has signs that says "wait at this line until the car leaves ramp". That could be a cheaper way.

^Really, where?

Before Rt 4 just north of downtown Dayton. There is an entrance ramp that had this sign coming southbound. I'm sure Chris could tell you more about it. It's been a long time since i've been that far north.

Depending on the location, there is very little in the way of advance warning of these ramp meters and lights.  At I-71 Southbound and Weber Road (where I normally enter) the sign is on the right side, barely a few feet ahead of the lights themselves, and they are just your standard yellow diamond highway signs.  Not exactly high profile.

 

On the SR 315 Enntrance ramp from Goodale Blvd, there is an advance warning, but it is the same type of yellow diamond sign.  I sure think (as inkalein suggested) that these would work better with a little better warning, like an overhead digital readout during peak hours at least.

^Digital read out eh? Maybe.

So noozer, those advance warning signs don't having flashing yellow lights?

^I guess some do, some don't. The only one I have ever seen was along 315 near channel 10 and the old Big Bear Wearhouse in C-bus. I don't think it didn't have one and we were very stunned the first time we drove up to it.

At least they operate.

There are ramp meters along I-71, north of the Fairgrounds that were installed prior to 1982.  I don't think the red lights on them operated for 15 years.

Looks like we've established that it's a pretty inconsistent system. 

Looks like we've established that it's a pretty inconsistent system. 

 

I do recall that ODOT/City of Columbus decided that ramp meters were needed around I-71/70 within the last 7 or so years.  The only time they are active seems to be during rush hour (though I recall several along I-70 around High St operating a little later than that)

 

Anyone know what the status is on this? I have not heard anything since the story broke.

 

According to Jay Hamilton, the District 8 Traffic Planning Engineer, the project is still on.  The ramp meters will be installed sometime in 2007 on all eastbound I-74 ramps between North Bend Rd. and Spring Grove Ave.  (North Bend, Montana, Beekman, Spring Grove)

If that is the case, then I can only imagine that the ramp meters are now part of the ARTIMIS I74 extension, which if I remember correctly is also programmed for 2007.

I would assume so.  I neglected to ask that and I also didn't ask how much it would cost.

They have been talking about replacing the aging bridge since the late 1990s, at least.  From the 11/4/05 Huntington Herald-Dispatch:

 

 

Bidding for Ironton-Russell bridge project pushed back

 

IRONTON -- The bid opening for the new Ironton-Russell Bridge has been pushed back from Nov. 22 to Jan. 13, according to a spokeswoman for the Ohio Department of Transportation.

 

http://www.herald-dispatch.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20051104/NEWS02/511040335/1007

 

From the 11/15/05 Ironton Tribune:

 

 

Bridge project remains on schedule

By Michael Caldwell/The Ironton Tribune

Tuesday, November 15, 2005 9:45 AM CST

 

Motorists won't know who will be building the new Ironton-Russell Bridge for an additional six weeks but state highway officials are emphatic that the overall project is flying along on pace.

 

http://www.irontontribune.com/articles/2005/11/20/news/news486.txt

 

From the 11/19/05 Findlay Courier:

 

U.S. 30 project rolling along

By JIM MAURER

Staff Writer

 

The base has been built for about 6.5 miles of the new U.S. 30 in southern Hancock County, and another eight miles is ready for pavement "build-up" when the road-building season resumes next year, state officials said Friday.

 

Local media and state legislators received a close-up view Friday of the progress that was made this year on building a 16.2-mile stretch of the new U.S. 30 in Hancock County.

 

Construction of the four-lane highway here is part of a nearly $99 million project.

 

More at:

 

http://www.thecourier.com/issues/2005/Nov/111905.asp#story2

 

From the 11/25/05 Pomeroy Daily Sentinel:

 

 

Problem with concrete will delay new bridge

By Tim Maloney

Friday, November 25, 2005 5:48 PM EST

 

MASON, W.Va. - Completion of the new Pomeroy-Mason Bridge will be delayed about three months after concrete in the West Virginia-side tower failed tests and has had to be torn down.

 

A 20-foot section of the tower has had to be removed, said Stephanie Filson, public information officer for Ohio Department of Transportation District 10. The approximate opening date for the new bridge has been pushed back from mid-2007 to late 2007.

 

http://www.mydailysentinel.com/articles/2005/11/25/news/local_news/news05.txt

 

From the 12/4/05 Pomeroy Daily Sentinel:

 

 

Bridge replacement getting back on track

Sunday, December 4, 2005 5:35 PM EST

Staff report

 

POMEROY - While progress has slowed on the Pomeroy-Mason Bridge replacement project in recent weeks following concrete consolidation problems detected on the West Virginia tower, the Ohio Department of Transportation District 10 says that not all project news is bad.

 

“Precautionary strength tests performed on the Ohio tower have demonstrated no strength problems and will require no rework,” said ODOT District 10 Deputy Director George M. Collins.

 

http://www.mydailysentinel.com/articles/2005/12/04/news/local_news/news00.txt

 

ODOT Press Release

Publication Date: 12/19/2005

 

ODOT opens new U.S. 30 in Wayne County

 

(WOOSTER) – Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) Director Gordon Proctor opened a new stretch of four-lane U.S. Route 30 today, between Wooster and State Route 57, following a formal ribbon cutting ceremony in Wooster. This completes the upgrade of U.S. 30 to a four-lane route in Wayne County.

 

Proctor was joined by U.S. Congressman Ralph Regula, State Senator Ron Amstutz, State Representative Jim Carmichael, Federal Highway Administration Division Administrator Dennis Decker and ODOT District Three Deputy Director Thomas M. O’Leary to celebrate the project’s completion. The project is opening nearly one year ahead of schedule.

 

“Completing this project brings Ohio one step closer to upgrading U.S. 30 to a four-lane highway from Indiana to Pennsylvania,” said Proctor. “This upgrade also addresses the safety and congestion issues that made this stretch of U.S. 30 one of the top non-freeway accident locations in the state.”

 

The $45 million project relocated an outdated, congested, eight-mile stretch of U.S. 30 from Wooster to SR 57. ODOT widened the road to four lanes, built new interchanges at Apple Creek Road and Carr Road and built four new grade separations, resulting in a safer and less congested highway.

 

This project, and others like it around the state, would not be possible without Governor Bob Taft’s Jobs and Progress Plan. Unveiled in 2003, the Jobs and Progress Plan 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.

 

“Completing the upgrade of U.S. 30 in Wayne County is a significant step toward rebuilding Ohio’s stressed transportation network,” Proctor said. “Moving forward in the process of rebuilding U.S. 30 reinforces the governor’s commitment to improve the state’s business climate and open new economic development opportunities.”

 

Through the Jobs and Progress Plan, the 23-county area that makes up central Ohio and includes Wayne, Ashland and Richland counties will see a historic investment of almost $1.4 billion over the next 10 years. This investment will build projects such as the reconstruction of the Interstate 71/U.S. 30 interchange and complete the widening of I-71 between Columbus and Cleveland. It is also providing the funding to complete the upgrade of U.S. 30 to four lanes between the Indiana state line and Canton.

 

Through the governor’s plan, ODOT kicked off a $99 million project from Upper Sandusky to State Route 235 in May 2005. When this project is complete in 2007, motorists will be able to travel on a four-lane, limited access highway from the Indiana state line to Canton. Projects to upgrade the route in Stark, Carroll and Columbiana counties are in the planning process. Information regarding these projects is available online at www.us30.org.

 

Contact: Beth Wilson at 419-207-7001.

I wasn't expecting that to be finished till next year.

From the 12/18/05 Pomeroy Daily Sentinel:

 

 

PHOTO: Workers from CJ Mahan Construction Company are clearing trees along the hillside above what will be the Pomeroy approach for the new Pomeroy-Mason Bridge. After the trees are cleared portions of the hillside’s rock cliff will be shaved away.  Beth Sergent/photo

 

Clearing the way for the Pomeroy bridge approach

By Beth Sergent

Sunday, December 18, 2005 8:21 PM EST

 

POMEROY - The construction of the new Pomeroy-Mason Bridge has so far been a long and winding road but now that road, at least on the Ohio side, is beginning to take shape as contractors clear trees from a nearby hillside to make room for the bridge's Pomeroy approach.

 

For the last few weeks motorists have watched as backhoes have plucked out trees from the hillside above where the new approach will rest.

 

http://www.mydailysentinel.com/articles/2005/12/18/news/local_news/news02.txt

 

Published: Tuesday, December 27, 2005

http://www.vindy.com/content/local_regional/302697391869235.php

 

ODOT sets public meeting on corridor study

 

SEBRING — Ohio Department of Transportation will conduct an open house public involvement meeting for the U.S. Route 62/state Route 14 corridor study project.

 

The meeting will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Jan. 5 in Murphy Auditorium, Lakeshore Activity Building at Copeland Oaks Retirement Community, 800 S. 15th St.

 

The corridor study is to address potential transportation alternatives to support economic development and improve traffic flow and safety in the area. ODOT officials and the project consultant will present and discuss the study with the public, solicit comments and answer questions.

 

There will be a brief presentation at 6 p.m. followed by an open house.

 

Written comments may also be submitted by Jan. 24 to: District 4 Deputy Director, Ohio Dept. of Transportation, 2088 S. Arlington Road, Akron, OH 44306-4342, Attention: Jack Noble, District 4 Planning and Programs Administrator. Contact Edward W. Deley Jr., ODOT District 4 environmental coordinator at (330) 786-4930, if you have questions.

 

Rest stop stink blamed on ODOT

Maintenance staff negligent, report says

Wednesday, December 28, 2005

 

Ted Wendling

Plain Dealer Bureau

 

Columbus -- The Ohio Department of Transportation ignored years of drinking water and wastewater problems at nine rest areas until noxious odors from overflows of raw sewage forced their closure Oct. 14.

 

For more info, click the link

 

 

To reach this Plain Dealer reporter:

 

[email protected], 1-800-228-8272

http://www.cleveland.com/ohio/plaindealer/index.ssf?/base/news/113576233042341.xml&coll=2

 

 

 

 

This is gross and intolerable. I just wonder how many other ODOT or other government employees are not doing their jobs also.

What gets me is that a series of letters dating back to 2003 could be sitting on this guy's desk and whoever sent those letters didn't bother to follow up for an answer?  What's wrong with that picture?

From the 12/31/05 Gallipolis Daily Tribune:

 

 

PHOTO: Tim Maloney/photo - Construction workers were taking no holiday this week at the new Pomeroy-Mason Bridge, where the West Virginia side tower, pictured here, is being rebuilt.

 

West Virginia tower going back up at new bridge

By Tim Maloney

Saturday, December 31, 2005 12:33 AM EST

 

MASON, W.Va. - Work is proceeding directly this week on reconstruction of the West Virginia-side tower which had to be demolished for bad concrete at the new Pomeroy-Mason Bridge.

 

“We have just finished pouring the first tower leg of the portion that we removed previously,” said Stephanie Filson, public information officer for the Ohio Department of Transportation District 10. “We will be pouring the other tower leg possibly today.”

 

http://www.mydailytribune.com/articles/2005/12/30/news/local_news/news03.txt

 

This project is designed to cut down on through truck traffic from OH-73 coming through downtown Wilmington, as well as to make downtown safer for pedestrians.  But let's be honest, this project is really for the benefit of DHL.

 

The project will consist of a bypass (I'm assuming four lanes) going around the north side of the city.  It will start down near the airport in the area of OH-73 and Township Hwy 261 and loop above the northern edge of the city before rejoining old OH-73 near its intersection with Mitchell Rd. (the last N-S road you see on the map before the terrain changes colors):

http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&ll=39.447064,-83.82946&spn=0.073173,0.136299&t=h

 

At-grade intersections with traffic signals will be at each end.  Grade-separated interchanges will be at US-68 and at US-22/OH-3.  There will be no other access points.

 

Phase I will go from Airborne Rd. to US-22/OH-3 (1.15 miles).  Construction is planned to begin in October 2006.

 

Phase II will go from US-22/OH-3 to US-68 (3.37 miles).  Construction is planned to begin in October 2007.

 

Phase III will go from US-68 to OH-73 (2.27 miles).  Construction is planned to begin in October 2008.

 

Full completion is expected in 2010.

 

There will be no direct access to I-71 from this new road, as studies deemed it unnecessary.

 

A public hearing regarding environmental assessments will take place January 9, 2006, at the Roberts Convention Center at I-71 and OH-73, from 4:30 PM-8 PM.

 

There is also a project website:

http://www.wilmingtonbypass.com/

 

Findlay Courier Editorials

 

Rest stops

Something stinks in state government.

 

Last Thursday, the Courier reported on an ODOT investigation of sewage problems at nine area rest stops, two of them in Hancock County. The probe found that its own workers had allowed maintenance problems to continue for years, with the result that a hazardous situation was created: raw sewage was overflowing and coliform bacteria was discovered in both drinking water and the water used for washing hands at the rest stops.

 

For more info, click the link

 

Copyright © 2006 The Findlay Publishing Company

http://www.thecourier.com/opinion/editoral/ed010406.htm

Part of an incentive package to bring keep DHL there

 

http://www.enquirer.com/editions/2004/06/29/biz_biz1adhl.html

 

"In return for the Ohio incentives, including a $300 million bond guarantee from the state, DHL has pledged to create 900 new jobs and invest $295 million in the Clinton County operation.

 

Ohio officials say they did not overpay with the incentive package, which included the accelerated construction of a new bypass highway around Wilmington. "

 

From the 1/5/06 Salem News:

 

 

ODOT: U.S. 62 study inches forward

By LARRY SHIELDS/Salem News staff writer

 

SEBRING - As it stands, with about $2.9 million in funding, the U.S. 62/state Route 14 planning study project continues inching forward according to Ohio Department of Transportation officials.

 

ODOT District 4 environmental planner Ed Deley said the 22-mile link from Alliance to state Route 11, estimated at $230 million, is completing step two of a 14 step process that has carried it from 2004, when interest in the 50-year-old proposal was reignited.

 

...

 

Larry Shields can be reached at [email protected]

 

http://www.salemnews.net/news/story/015202006_new03ODOT.asp

 

The By-pass was to be a "Super 2", but now it is planned to be a 4-lane highway.

 

Many people have expressed concerns on what will be done with U.S. 68 and S.R. 73 from the by-pass to Interstate 71. Both are two lane roads and will be clogged with traffic from the future by-pass.

I think they claim that the safety aspects of both 68 and 73 between the bypass and I-71 are part of a statewide safety study by ODOT and are somehow outside of the consideration of the Wilmington Bypass project.  Isn't that convenient?

I travel 73 in and out of Wilmington every day - this bypass is desperately needed.  But it needs to connect with I-71... claiming it's unnecessary is nuts.  73 and 68 are not built to safely accommodate the high volume of truck traffic.  73 especially has numerous driveways, mail stops and bus stops which are extremely unsafe when combined with hundreds of semis going 60 mph over hills and valleys.  They could at least make it connect at the 73/I-71 interchange if they don't want a 3rd Wilmington interchange with I-71. 

ODOT disciplines 5 employees over rest-area neglect

Thursday, January 12, 2006

Ted Wendling

Plain Dealer Bureau

 

Columbus - The Ohio Department of Transportation has reprimanded a deputy director and filed disciplinary charges against four employees for allowing nine rest areas in western Ohio to become cesspools.

 

For more info, click the link

 

To reach this Plain Dealer reporter:

 

[email protected], 1-800-228-8272

 

 

 

 

© 2006 The Plain Dealer

http://www.cleveland.com/ohio/plaindealer/index.ssf?/base/news/1137058563210090.xml&coll=2

From the 1/10/06 Lisbon Morning Journal:

 

 

Palestine protesting Route 62 relocation plan

By KRISTY FOSTER Journal Staff Writer

 

EAST PALESTINE - City council is fighting back against the Ohio Department of Transportation and their new plan for the relocation of state Route 14 and U.S. Route 62.

 

Council members passed a resolution at Monday's meeting to ask that ODOT reconsider its plan for the highway.

City Manager Gary Clark and resident Merle Stewart, representing the city, attended the public meeting for the project last week and told council that the only way the city could have a say in the project is by making their disappointment known.

 

...

 

 

[email protected]

 

http://www.morningjournalnews.com/news/story/0110202006_new06news10.asp

 

From the 1/14/06 Huntington Herald-Dispatch:

 

 

Costs could delay bridge

Lowest bid for Ironton-Russell bridge comes in 11% over estimate

By DAVID E. MALLOY

The Herald-Dispatch

 

IRONTON -- Higher than expected costs could cause a delay in the proposed Ironton-Russell bridge, said Kathleen Fuller, a spokeswoman for the Ohio Department of Transportation.

 

http://www.herald-dispatch.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060114/NEWS02/601140309/1007