The proposed I-70 “Corridor of the Future” project would add four dedicated and segregated truck lanes — two in each direction — along I-70 through Ohio, Indiana, Illinois and Indiana.
“Accidents are primarily caused by lane changing, not by speed,” said William Durstock, director of risk management for Dayton Freight Lines. “If you can separate that activity away from the trucks you increase safety.”
Delays caused by detours, accidents and congestion cost money for “just-in-time” freight carriers, said Kevin Burch, president of Jet Express of Dayton. “We would welcome a truck route,” he said.
Dayton Freight and Jet Express, among other area trucking companies, run hundreds of trucks nightly on the I-70 corridor.
The proposed I-70 project is still in the concept stages, Dickey said.
Under the proposal, cars and local traffic would be in outside lanes, with dedicated truck lanes on the inside. A median or barrier would separate cars and trucks.
The I-70 Corridor Coalition, made up of the four states’ transportation departments and the Federal Highway Administration, recently completed a $3 million study that determined a case can be made for dedicated lanes.
The next phase will include cost, design and financing studies.
The coalition plans to propose the idea to Congress as a “project of national significance” related to the next federal transportation bill, Dickey said.
Average daily vehicle traffic on I-70 through the four states is more than 45,000 with a maximum more than 250,000, the FHA said, while average daily truck traffic is more than 11,000 with a maximum more than 26,000.
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