This Memorial Day weekend means more cars and trucks on the road navigating construction zones. Here’s the list of potential choke points from the Ohio Department of Transportation:
Southwest Ohio
Interstate 75, Montgomery County: I-75 from Third St. to Main Street is under construction due to the modernization of the interstate through the city of Dayton. Two lanes of traffic will remain open to northbound motorists. Three lanes will be open to southbound motorists. Motorists need to stay alert, as traffic patterns are currently not in their traditional places at this location.
Interstate 70, Montgomery County: I-70 between Airport Access Road and SR 48 is under construction. Two lanes of traffic will remain open to motorists in each direction. Motorist should remain alert as there is a lot of work being done in this area.
Interstate 75, Hamilton County: Interstate 75/Hopple St. interchange. Eastbound I-74, just north/west of the merge to southbound I-75 is reduced to one lane from the exit to Central Pkwy. to the merge with southbound I-75; traffic can continue to exit from eastbound I-74 to northbound I-75 and to Central Pkwy. Two left lanes of southbound I-75 are shifted onto northbound I-75 by way of two contraflow lanes located between south of the I-75/ I-74 interchange and north of Harrison Ave. exit. The right lane of southbound I-75 and the lane from eastbound I-74 remain on the southbound side of I-75. While the permanent work zone restrictions remain in place, work is suspended over the holiday and there will be no additional lane closures.
Interstate 275, Clermont County: Pavement rehabilitation and resurfacing on I-275 and the ramps between I-74 and approximately Struble Rd. While the permanent work zone restrictions remain in place, work is suspended over the holiday and there will be no additional lane closures.
Interstate 275, Hamilton County: Major reconstruction and reconfiguration of the I-275/SR 32 interchange; widening of SR 32 and new underpass for Aicholtz Rd. under I-275. While the permanent work zone restrictions remain in place, work is suspended over the holiday and there will be no additional lane closures.
Interstate 675, Greene County: Four-lane resurfacing on I-675 between Grange Hall Road and SR 235. North Fairfield Road at I-675 is reduced to one lane in each direction for bridge work. While the permanent work zone restrictions remain in place, work is suspended over the holiday and there will be no additional lane closures.
Western Ohio
Interstate 70, Clark County: I-70 between Enon Road and U.S. 68 is under construction due to a lane addition project. Motorists will encounter orange barrels with at least two lanes open both eastbound and westbound.
Interstate 75, Miami/Shelby County: I-75 near CR 25A (Farrington) north of Troy is under construction. Two lanes of traffic will remain open in each direction. The ramp from I-75 south to CR 25A is closed. Motorists need to stay alert, as traffic patterns are currently not in their traditional places at this location.
Central Ohio
U.S. Route 40 (West Broad Street), Franklin County …
Two lanes of traffic are being maintained in each direction from I-270 to Norton Road. Traffic is reduced to one lane in each direction from Norton Road. to Hilliard-Rome Rd. for a widening project.
Interstate 270/U.S. Route 23 (North Side Fix), Franklin County …
Widen U.S. 23 from four to six lanes from I-270 to Lazelle Road. Construct U.S. 23 northbound “trench” from north of I-270 to south of Northwoods Boulevard. Reconfigure the ramps at I-270/U.S. 23.
Eastern Ohio
U.S. Route 22, Fairfield County …
U.S. Route 22 is closed near Rushville over Little Rush Creek. The previous bridge was demolished and construction of a new bridge has begun. Motorists will detour via SR 664 to SR 37 and back to U.S. 22.
Interstate 70, Belmont County …
Bridge rehabilitation and removal project about a ½ mile east of the SR 800/Barnesville exit. Four lanes of traffic are maintained using a contraflow pattern, meaning two lanes of traffic will be maintained in each direction; however, one direction is split.
Interstate 70, Belmont County …
Three structures are being replaced, including the Marion Street Bridge over I-70 and the eastbound on and off ramp structures to I-70. The Marion Street Bridge is closed to traffic as well as the westbound on ramp to I-70, and both the I-70 eastbound ramps. The westbound off ramp remains open. Local northbound traffic wanting to access I-70 eastbound is detoured to Wheeling Island. Local traffic is detoured on U.S. 40 from Bridgeport to the Belmont CR 214 exit. Access to Bridgeport continues to be maintained; however, thru truck traffic is encouraged to use I-470 to avoid congestion and possible delays.
State Route 7, Jefferson County …
SR 7 is reduced to one lane between Brilliant and Rush Run for landslide repairs.
Northern Ohio
State Route 2, Lorain County …
SR 2, between the Ohio Turnpike/I-90 split and Middle Ridge Road, is reduced to narrowed lanes of traffic for a major bridge rehabilitation project. Two lanes of westbound traffic are maintained using a contraflow traffic pattern where one lane for local traffic is maintained on the westbound side. Two lanes of traffic will be maintained at all times in both directions. Motorists are encouraged to use extreme caution while navigating this work zone and watch for slower moving traffic as it merges in to an open lane. The project is expected to be complete in October 2016.
U.S. Route 250 and Perkins Avenue, Erie County …
U.S. Route 250 south/eastbound is reduced to one lane of traffic at its intersection with Perkins Avenue. in the city of Sandusky as part an intersection improvement project. Perkins Avenue. traffic also has lane restrictions for utility work.
Northeast Ohio
Interstate 76/Kenmore Leg in the city of Akron, Summit County …
I-76/Kenmore Leg westbound between I-77 and I-277 is closed through early June for pavement repairs and resurfacing. As a result, the following ramps are closed through early June as well:
• The ramp from I-77 southbound to I-76/Kenmore Leg westbound. The detour is I-76 eastbound to I-77 southbound to I-277 westbound.
• The ramp from I-77 northbound/I-76 westbound to I-76/Kenmore Leg westbound. The detour is I-77 northbound to SR 21 southbound.
• The ramp from 22nd Street to I-76/Kenmore Leg/ westbound. The detour is Kenmore Boulevard to SR 93 south to Waterloo Rd. to I-277.
Interstate 271 in Richfield Village and Richfield Township, Summit County …
Motorists traveling on I-271 northbound from just south of Broadview Road. to just south of SR 303 should be aware of a bi-directional traffic pattern. Although two lanes of traffic are maintained in each direction on I-271 northbound traffic will be split, with one lane of northbound traffic crossed over onto I-271 southbound, while the second lane remains on I-271 northbound.
Interstate 271 in the City of Macedonia, Summit County …
I-271 between SR 8 and the Cuyahoga County line has various nightly lane restrictions between 7 p.m. and 6 a.m. for roadway widening. The speed limit in this area will be reduced to 50 mph during construction.
Interstate 90 in Austinburg, Plymouth and Saybrook Townships, Ashtabula County …
Motorists traveling on I-90 westbound from just east of SR 45 to just east of SR 11 should be aware of a bi-directional traffic pattern. Although two lanes of traffic are maintained in each direction on I-90, westbound traffic is split, with one lane of westbound traffic crossed over onto I-90 eastbound, while the second lane remains on I-90 westbound. Also, I-90 eastbound and westbound between SR 45 and SR 11 and SR 11 over I-90 has various daily lane restrictions for roadway construction.
Interstate 90 George V. Voinovich Bridge, Cuyahoga County …
All I-90 traffic is now traveling on the first of two, new bridges to replace the 1959 Innerbelt Bridge in downtown Cleveland. I-90 remains open; however, multiple ramps – including the Ontario St. exit ramp from I-90 east – along the downtown corridor are closed or restricted. Visit www.Innerbelt.org for more information.
Interstate 77 Bridge Deck Replacement, Cuyahoga County …
The I-480 eastbound ramp to I-77 northbound is closed. Traffic is maintained on I-77 north and southbound between I-480 and SR 21 utilizing the crossover traffic pattern. Visit www.77bridgedeckreplacement.transportation.ohio.gov for detours and more information.
Interstate 90 Eastbound Safety Improvement Project, Cuyahoga County …
The W 25th St. exit ramp from I-90 east is closed until approximately early June. Detour via W 41st/W 44th streets.
Northwest Ohio
Interstate 75, Lima, Allen County …
I-75 from Fourth St. in Lima to Cridersville has restricted lane widths during reconstruction of the interstate. Traffic patterns are altered but two lanes of traffic are maintained in both directions.
U.S. Routes 23/30 Upper Sandusky, Wyandot County …
U.S. 23/30 northbound and southbound at Upper Sandusky is currently reduced to one lane through the work zone for bridge and pavement repair and resurfacing. On U.S. 23 the zone extends from south of SR 182 to just south of CR 47, and on U.S. 30 from the U.S. 23 split to Township Highway 103.
State Route 15, Findlay, Hancock County …
SR 15 northbound east of the U.S. 68 junction is one lane through the work zone for a roadside slide repair project which is expected to continue through July.
Interstate 75, Wood County …
Widen I-75 to three lanes in both directions from Perrysburg to Findlay. 11-foot lane width restrictions and reduced speed limits are in place in the work zone.
Interstate 75, Lucas County …
I-75, from the Anthony Wayne Trail to the I-75/280 interchange in Toledo, is reduced to two lanes. Ramp restrictions are also in place at the I-75/475 interchange in Toledo. 11-foot lane width restrictions and reduced speed limits are in place in the work zone. The ramp from Detroit Ave. to southbound I-75 is closed. Detour is posted.
Interstate 475, Lucas County …
Through June 2016, 11-foot lane width restrictions will be in place on I- 475 from Salisbury Rd./Dussel Dr. through the U.S. 23 interchange for bridge widening and interchange work.
State Route 2, Lucas County …
The Anthony Wayne Bridge remains closed through November 2015 for bridge rehabilitation. Detour is posted.
Southern Ohio
U.S. Route 23, Pike County …
A resurfacing project is under way on U.S. 23, where crews are paving the route from approximately one mile south of SR 32 to the southern corporation limit of Waverly, as well as from just north of Waverly to the route’s junction with TR 438 (Park Road), approximately one-half mile south of the Ross County line. Throughout construction, traffic will be maintained in a minimum of one lane in each direction, and all work is scheduled to be completed in early fall.
Southeast Ohio
State Route 7, Washington County …
SR 7 is reduced to one lane in each direction between Belpre exit and Veto Rd. There are no width restrictions. Speed limit is reduced to 50 mph.
State Route 147, Noble County …
SR 147 is closed located just west of SR 566 junction due to a culvert replacement project. Detour is posted.
Top destinations
Travel experts at the local AAA office report the top five destination requests from Miami Valley area travelers are:
1. Gatlinburg, Tenn.
2. Myrtle Beach, S.C.
3. Orlando, Fla.
4. Hilton Head Island, S.C.
5. Destin-Ft. Walton Beach, Fla.
Fueled by more disposable income from months of cost savings on gasoline, a record number of Ohio travelers are expected to hit the road for the Memorial Day weekend.
That’s the prediction from AAA, which first started tracking the number of holiday travelers 14 years ago.
A record 1.44 million Ohioans plan to travel this weekend, up 4.7 percent compared to last year when 1.38 million took to the road, AAA estimated.
Traffic will be heaviest this morning and Monday afternoon, if experience is any guide.
Travelers will have to brave 990 highway construction zones around the state — also an all-time record.
Highway workers, however, will try to open up as many lanes as possible, said Ohio Department of Transportation spokesman Matt Bruning. Contractors typically pull their workers off the job during holiday periods.
“We tell them to pull back these construction zones as much as they can because of the large number of people driving,” Bruning said.
While gasoline prices have ticked up 20 cents a gallon locally, they’re still far below last year’s prices and have been low for the past year by historical standards.
AAA calculates that most drivers likely will pay the lowest Memorial Day gas prices in at least five years with the national average at $2.70 — 76 cents lower than the price for Memorial Day in 2014.
“Are prices up here? Yes, but a fill-up is about a cup of coffee more expensive now,” said Cindy Antrican, spokeswoman for AAA of the Miami Valley. “The money they have not spent on gas is disposable. Consumers are more confident because the price is down on gas and other energy as well.”
Maria Oria, 68, was at AAA headquarters in downtown Dayton on Wednesday to get help planning a trip to Alaska.
“I have a bucket list,” she said. “I want to play golf in every state. This is the last one.”
She said the trip includes some automobile travel and the low gasoline prices are helping.
“That will help us defray costs,” she said.
Antrican said 1.3 million of Ohio travelers are expected to travel by automobile, an increase of 5.2 percent over last year.
For private travel agents, the Memorial Day weekend is rather short. Greg Wingham of Joy Tour & Travel in West Chester Twp. said travel predominantly is limited to brief in-state or out-of-state getaways.
“It’s more people in the car doing their own thing,” Wingham said. “Normally, plane trips are longer typically than a weekend.”
From Dayton south to Cincinnati, here are some ODOT construction zones:
Interstate 75, Montgomery County — I-75 from Third Street to Main Street is under construction with the modernization of the interstate through Dayton. Two lanes of traffic will remain open to northbound motorists. Three lanes will be open to southbound motorists. Traffic patterns are not in their traditional places.
I-70, Montgomery County — I-70 between Airport Access Road and Ohio 48 is under construction. Two lanes of traffic will remain open in each direction.
I-675, Greene County — Four-lane resurfacing on I-675 between Grange Hall Road and Ohio 235. North Fairfield Road at I-675 is reduced to one lane in each direction for bridge work.
I-75, Hamilton County — Interstate 75/Hopple Street interchange. Eastbound I-74, just north/west of the merge to southbound I-75 is reduced to one lane from the exit to Central Parkway to the merge with southbound I-75; traffic can continue to exit from eastbound I-74 to northbound I-75 and to Central Parkway.
Two left lanes of southbound I-75 are shifted onto northbound I-75 by way of two contraflow lanes south of the I-75/ I-74 interchange and north of the Harrison Avenue exit. The right lane of southbound I-75 and the lane from eastbound I-74 remain on the southbound side of I-75. Permanent work zone restrictions remain in place.
Reporter Eric Schwartzberg contributed to this report.
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