From the Tuesday Delaware Gazette
Wheels turning for updated interchange
ANDREW TOBIAS
Staff Writer
The wheels are turning on the public process for a new Delaware Interstate 71 exit, as are plans for accompanying private development.
There is big money behind plans for the interchange, which will likely involve building a new exit either north or south of the existing one at U.S. 36/Ohio 37.
Planning and building a new interchange would cost an estimated $114 million, according to Ohio Department of Transportation District Six spokesman Brian Hedge. While the state and developers are expected to split the $114 million price tag, development associated with the interchange would put the county on the hook for undetermined additional costs. Those would include expanded sheriff, fire and EMS coverage and the construction of new local roads.
Officials expect a public-private partnership between Delaware County and the developers that own land to the north and/or south of the current exit to address those costs. But details of the cost-sharing agreement have not yet been hammered out.
"There's going to be a lot of pressure put on the county to put up those funds for developers," Delaware County Economic Development Director Gus Comstock said. "And the county needs to be able to push back and say, this is a project that the private sector should build."
But county officials are enticed by the jobs the development would bring, along with money it would bring to the county's coffers, and are considering offering financial incentives.
Delaware County commissioners in August approved paying up to $40,000 to hire a consultant to study the economic impact of a new interchange. Commissioners have not yet formally hired a consultant, but Comstock said a finalist has been chosen, and a contract is under review by the prosecutor's office.
That consultant, using limited information, predicted preliminarily that within 25 years of its construction, the interchange will help create more than 7,600 jobs making a combined $300 million in annual payroll, $32 million annually in additional property taxes and annual sales tax revenues of about $16 million.
A small detail: The new interchange has not yet been green-lit. At a meeting earlier this month, ODOT asked the state Transportation Review Advisory Committee to grant the project priority status, and for $5 million to pay for preliminary environmental and engineering studies.
ODOT Director Jolene Molitoris, who chairs the TRAC, said she was impressed by the presence of officials with Delaware County, Delaware city, Sunbury and Olentangy schools who attended that meeting along with private developers.
While the project is still in its early stages, Delaware County officials are exploring how to pay for necessary improvements that would accompany the interchange. They are also lobbying ODOT to help move the project forward.
"Obviously a huge development of this nature is of interest to the commissioners," Delaware County Commissioner Todd Hanks said.
Comstock, Hanks, developer Pat Shivley, who owns land to the south of the current exit, and a representative of an investment banking firm met last August to discuss the benefits of creating a government entity called a new community authority (NCA), a public record shows.
New community authorities are able to sell bonds to fund improvements, and then pay off the loans by setting special property value and income-based fees within its geographical boundaries. NCAs have been used in recent years in Delaware County to build sewer plants for residential developments in Berkshire (the Northstar development near the same I-71 interchange) and Concord townships.
Comstock said any discussions are still preliminary in nature, and that he is also researching tax-increment-financing – which would set aside taxes on expected property value increases that would accompany development – or the creation of a Joint Economic Development District between surrounding governments as options.
"What I try to tell people is everything is just a bunch of balls up in the air," Comstock said.
County officials have discussed capturing revenue from the development to pay to build a $15-20 million practice facility for the Columbus Crew. Such a facility would stimulate tourism interest and attract business for nearby hotels, which would generate bed taxes for the county, officials with the Crew contend.
Last July, an engineering consultant hired by Shivley recommended building an interchange on Shivley's side of the current interchange. That proposal included the construction of a road tentatively dubbed "Sunbury Parkway," which would connect 3 B's and K Road eastward about four miles to the Cheshire Road/Domigan Road intersection outside Sunbury.
A group led by developer Bob Weiler, which owns land to the north of U.S. 36/Ohio 37 including the Northstar development, is also lobbying to have the interchange built on its side of the road.
atobias@delgazette.com
Going backwards...
This article is from July 16, also from the Delaware Gazette
Consultant recommends new 1-71 exit
ANDREW TOBIAS
A consultant has recommended that a new $50.2 million "Sunbury Parkway" exit be built south of the current Delaware Interstate 71 interchange to help address the current heavy congestion there.
MS Consultants, hired by developer Pat Shively, also considered building an exit to the north of U.S. 36/Ohio 37, which would cost an estimated $7 million less. But, the southern exit option would be more useful to county residents since it would connect to the more-densely southern part of the county, according to a draft of the study.
The project would require the construction of a proposed east-west "Sunbury Parkway" about a half-mile south of U.S. 36/Ohio 37, connecting from 3 B's and K Road to about four miles eastward to the Cheshire Road/Donegal Road intersection near Sunbury.
Fourwinds Drive would be extended further north from U.S. 36/Ohio 37, and south to a re-alligned 3 B's and K Road. Wilson Road would be extended southward to Cheshire Road. Fourwinds Drive and Cheshire Road would be connected with a new east-west road.
Also as part of the proposal, Interstate 71 would need to be widened to meet state requirements for the new interchange, likely requiring a complete re-construction of the Cheshire Road overpass.
The Ohio Department of Transportation is currently accepting feedback from developers and the Delaware County Engineer's Office before approving the study.
ODOT spokesman Brian Hedge said nothing has been finalized.
"It looks like we're going to eventually move forward with something out there, but we don't know exactly what yet," Hedge said.
State funding has also not yet been allocated to the project. The state will seek contributions from private developers in the area to help the project be completed more quickly, Hedge said.
There is no timeline for any major improvements to the interchange.
Because any change would affect the interstate system, the project must be vetted through a complicated and lengthy bureaucratic process, requiring multiple levels of approval from ODOT, as Federal Highway Administration. Another more in-depth study will also need to be completed.
The interchange is considered by area officials to be a lynchpin of future development in Delaware County. Shively, who owns options on 1,000 acres south of U.S. 36/Ohio 37, plans to promote mixed-use development in the area. Another developer, Bob Weiler, one of the primary forces behind the Polaris development, owns the Northstar housing development and golf course north of U.S. 36/Ohio 37, and has similar plans for that side of the road in the future.
Both developers have pushed for improvements to the interchange to help promote residential and commercial growth.
The Columbus Crew have also expressed an interest to build a county-funded practice facility near the interchange, and some Cincinnati-based developers have pegged the site as a possible location for an American Indian casino, although that project is considered unlikely by some.
Delaware County Economic Development Director Gus Comstock said he is anxiously awaiting an ODOT decision. He said knowing whether the proposed interchange will be north or south of U.S. 36/Ohio 37 will give him something concrete to tell prospective companies interested in building near the exit.
"If you're a major company, you want to know where that interchange is going to be before you make any announcements," Comstock said. "I know there are people waiting, but until that decision is made, nobody wants to make any commitments."
The state has some plans to make what it hopes will be short-term fixes to help address the heavy traffic.
In 2012, ODOT plans to widen the I-71 exit ramps, lengthen U.S. 36/Ohio 37's left turn lanes and add a right turn lane to U.S. 36/OH-37 to address some of the traffic issues. However, the report states that even with those improvements, the interchange will remain congested for the next 20 years and beyond.
However, according to the study, anything short of a new exit won't do enough to sufficiently address heavy congestion at the current interchange, which has been rated an "F" on an ODOT scale. During rush hour, lines of cars waiting to turn onto U.S. 36/Ohio 37 regularly back up from the I-71 offramp onto the actual highway.
atobias@delgazette.com
This pretty much would be the last nail in the coffin for any chance of a high-speed interchange in this area that could be converted to a future limited-access highway connector between I-71 and US-23, either as a relocated US-36/OH-37 or a Future I-73.
I wish that the pro-Sunbury Parkway people could beat some sense into the Delaware NIMBYs to tell them how a high-speed US-23/I-71 connector would benefit travel & tourism between Toledo & Columbus.
From today's Delaware Gazette. Evidently ODOT is getting closer to paying for a new interchange here. Though I have a hard time believing that these folks would get development akin to Polaris (or Easton or Tuttle Crossing). Even if I-73 or an Outer-outerbelt was built, there isn't the population density as you have along the threshold of Franklin Co (at least north of I-70)
Also look for a surprise at the end of the article.
State to give $5m for new I-71 interchange
Andrew Tobias
A request for $5 million to help build a new Delaware interchange off Interstate 71 was among projects that has been given the preliminary green-light by an Ohio Department of Transportation panel late thisweek.
The Transportation Review Advisory Committee, which is chaired by ODOT Director Jolene Molitoris, also granted a proposed new I-71 interchange at U.S. 36/Ohio 37 tier two status, which means the state views it as a project worthy of further study.
The funding will help pay for preliminary environmental studies, which local ODOT officials expect to last until 2012. The project is tentatively slated to cost about $114 million, with actual construction beginning as soon as summer 2014.
County officials hope an interchange will lead to commercial development comparable to the Polaris Mall area.
The list is only a draft – ODOT will accept public comments on the funding proposals until Feb. 11 before finalizing its funding list for March. Still, the Delaware County Engineer's Office expects study of the interchange project to begin moving forward, said deputy engineer Rob Riley.
"We don't have any reason to believe there would be anything preventing this from being on the final list," he said.
Delaware County Economic Development Director Gus Comstock said the state's support gives viability to ongoing efforts to develop the area.
"This adds more credibility for those opportunities to become real," Comstock said. "Without that interchange happening, there's not much opportunity for new development."
A study commissioned last July by a developer who controls land south of U.S. 36/Ohio 37 recommended a new interchange be built through that developer's land. That proposal included the dubbed "Sunbury Parkway," which would connect 3 B's and K Road eastward about four miles to the Cheshire Road/Domigan Road intersection outside Sunbury.
An economic development consultant hired by the county has predicted a new interchange will help create more than 7,600 jobs making a combined $300 million in annual payroll, $32 million annually in additional property taxes and annual sales tax revenues of about $16 million within 25 years of its construction.
That consultant is currently in town conducting more detailed research, which could lead to the county offering financial incentives to either of the
two developers interested in building in the area.
TRAC also granted "fast track" status this week to plans to widen to three lanes a stretch of Interstate 71 from U.S. 36/Ohio 37 northward to the Richland County line.
The first phase of the project would widen the highway from U.S. 95 north to Richland County in 2011, paving the way for widening I-71 in Delaware
County from U.S. 36/Ohio 37 north to Ohio 61 in Morrow County.
This is great, but what they really need is an interchange at Cheshire Road. It would assist in a lot of peoples' commutes.
Quote from: Adam Smith on December 13, 2010, 08:32:32 PM
The first phase of the project would widen the highway from U.S. 95 north to Richland County in 2011, paving the way for widening I-71 in Delaware
County from U.S. 36/Ohio 37 north to Ohio 61 in Morrow County.
Finishing the three laning of I-71 is long overdue. Travel this route about a half dozen times a year on my way from Indy to Youngstown and the two lane stretch of 71 is very congested. Not sure I am looking forward to the construction but it will be nice when it is done.
(Didn't realize this thread had been asleep for nearly two years)
http://www.dispatch.com/content/stories/local/2012/09/07/state-to-seek-input-on-possible-overhaul-of-rts--3637-interchange.html (http://www.dispatch.com/content/stories/local/2012/09/07/state-to-seek-input-on-possible-overhaul-of-rts--3637-interchange.html)
By Laura Arenschield
The Columbus Dispatch, Friday September 7, 2012 7:25 AM
DELAWARE, Ohio – State transportation officials plan to take the first step today in what promises to be a lengthy process to improve, or move, the I-71 interchange that leads to both Delaware and Sunbury.
ODOT is putting out a "request for information" to see whether developers want to work with the state to help deal with on- and off-ramps that often cause traffic to back up along the interstate and Rts. 36 and 37 during rush hours.
The developers could build shopping centers, restaurants or other businesses at the exits and help pay for road improvements that would, ODOT hopes, ease congestion at the interchange.
The developers who respond to ODOT's request for information "will spur further discussion" about where the interchange should go and how it should look, said Steve Fellenger, project manager for the interchange.
The request for information, though, is a very early step in the process. This fall, ODOT will ask developers for concrete plans about how they would develop the land around the interchange and how they would pay for both development and road improvements.
The improvements could cost as much as $120 million, Fellenger said. The design process could take about a year and a half, he said.
In the meantime, ODOT is working on temporary safety fixes to the Delaware interchange: adding turn lanes to alleviate traffic backups on Rts. 36/ 37, adding turn lanes to the exit ramps off I-71 and adding traffic signals to manage traffic. More than 30,000 vehicles use the interchange daily.
"The safety project is really just a short-term solution to the congestion and crashes we've had out there," Fellenger said. "The longer-term solution, we're looking to development to take care of a lot of the improvements."
Fellenger said construction on the new turn lanes should be finished in November. Around that same time, he said, ODOT would ask developers for their plans for the interchange. What developers proposed would be up to them, he said, but ODOT, in a feasibility study completed last month, had a few findings.
Merely upgrading the interchange would not be enough to handle traffic demands, the study found.
The study essentially left ODOT with three options: Build a new interchange south of Rts. 36/37, build a new interchange at the same location or build a "combined" interchange. The combined ramps would look something like Gemini Parkway near the Polaris shopping center, Fellenger said.
And although none of those options has been chosen, Fellenger said, Delaware County officials have a vested interest in protecting the existing interchange.
"Obviously, the county doesn't want to see the existing businesses hurt in any way that would force any of those to leave or to move away from the area," Fellenger said.
The various fast-food restaurants and gas stations near that interchange employ about 400 people, said Gus Comstock, Delaware County's economic-development director.
"It's important for us as a county to protect the existing businesses and make sure their livelihood is ensured," Comstock said.
Two developers already are buying land around the interchange. Robert Weiler and Nationwide Realty Investors hold about 2,000 acres to the north of Rts. 36/37. Weiler is developing the NorthStar community, a mixed-use development that includes homes.
Another developer, Pat Shively, owns about 1,400 acres to the south. Shively is developing NorthGate Centre, which could include retail, commercial and office space.
larenschield@dispatch.com
Quote from: Hot Rod Hootenanny on September 07, 2012, 09:56:00 AM
The study essentially left ODOT with three options: Build a new interchange south of Rts. 36/37, build a new interchange at the same location or build a "combined" interchange. The combined ramps would look something like Gemini Parkway near the Polaris shopping center, Fellenger said.
What?!?!?! No 4th Option: Build an interstate-standards connector between I-71 and US-36/SR-37 to the west that could be extended in the future as a connector to US-23 north of Delaware as part of a future I-73 corridor project?!?!?!?
Bastards.
Quote from: thenetwork on September 07, 2012, 05:56:55 PM
Quote from: Hot Rod Hootenanny on September 07, 2012, 09:56:00 AM
The study essentially left ODOT with three options: Build a new interchange south of Rts. 36/37, build a new interchange at the same location or build a "combined" interchange. The combined ramps would look something like Gemini Parkway near the Polaris shopping center, Fellenger said.
What?!?!?! No 4th Option: Build an interstate-standards connector between I-71 and US-36/SR-37 to the west that could be extended in the future as a connector to US-23 north of Delaware as part of a future I-73 corridor project?!?!?!?
Bastards.
I guess ODOT and Delaware County prefer to work with people who
want highways on their land instead of people who
don't want to give their land towards highways.
Liberatarians.
I saw that feasibility study a while ago. It looked to me like ODOT was leaning towards moving 36/37 a bit south with a new interchange, while leaving the existing interchange there.
A connector to US 23 absolutely should be considered, at least to the extent that it remains feasible to do in the future. Nobody driving to Toledo wants to spend 45 minutes to an hour slogging through Delaware County sprawl. I'm not too alarmed about that yet, though; my preferred alignment for such a road begins more than 2 miles north of the current interchange, and I don't think near-term development plans go up that far.
On the other hand, MORPC is planning for "access management" along US 23 over the next 30 years; I optimistically interpret that as an upgrade to expressway. ODOT probably thinks that's good enough. If we disagree, perhaps we should, as concerned citizens and motorists, write some letters.
I guess this cinches the "new" I-71-US 36/Oh 37 interchange being south of the current one.
http://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2012/11/29/mega-outlet-center-planned-for-i-71.html (http://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2012/11/29/mega-outlet-center-planned-for-i-71.html)
That article doesn't say anything about a new interchange. It says the developers are working with ODOT on options for improving the existing interchange. Which they just finished improving – at least, they've just about maxed out the capacity for a simple diamond interchange. Generating even more traffic at that interchange is a very bad idea unless a completely new interchange comes with it (and by "with" I mean "before").
Columbus Dispatch's read of all the interest in development at the interchange.
http://www.dispatch.com/content/stories/business/2012/12/23/delaware-county-site-of-maximum-interest.html (http://www.dispatch.com/content/stories/business/2012/12/23/delaware-county-site-of-maximum-interest.html)
That interchange is a mess. Throw in the fact there's a huge distribution center for Kroger located just west of there that a lot of truck traffic (of which there's two truck stops just east of this interchange that handles a ton of traffic), and you see why this needs to be updated.
Quote from: Sykotyk on December 28, 2012, 01:23:19 AM
That interchange is a mess. Throw in the fact there's a huge distribution center for Kroger located just west of there that a lot of truck traffic (of which there's two truck stops just east of this interchange that handles a ton of traffic), and you see why this needs to be updated.
Add to that trucks that use US 42 off of I-70 in London to US 36 in Delaware to by-pass Columbus to go to Akron/Cleveland.
This interchange is a mess, indeed!!
Is it just me or is US-23 in Delaware County Ohio's equivalent of US-31 in Hamilton County, IN?
Almost, if we are talking about major north-south highways traveling through the middle of the most affluent county of a metropolitan area, but US 31 in Hamilton County, IN has more of an expressway feel than US 23 in Delaware County, OH (at least south of Delaware.) When I traveled that highway from Delaware to I-270 I noticed that there were plenty of businesses located along the road once I got into the far southern part of the county, and this continued all the way to I-270, it felt similar to US 421 just northwest of Indianapolis. US 31 through Hamilton County on the other hand has stoplights only at the crossover streets and pratically all businesses are connected via those crossing streets and frontage roads. This arrangement makes the conversion of US 31 to a freeway much easier in my opinion and is probably the main reason US 23 south of Delaware probably won't be one in the foreseeable future.
Quote from: tdindy88 on January 05, 2013, 10:15:54 PM
Almost, if we are talking about major north-south highways traveling through the middle of the most affluent county of a metropolitan area, but US 31 in Hamilton County, IN has more of an expressway feel than US 23 in Delaware County, OH (at least south of Delaware.) When I traveled that highway from Delaware to I-270 I noticed that there were plenty of businesses located along the road one I got into the far southern part of the county, and this continued all the way to I-270, it felt similar to US 421 just northwest of Indianapolis. US 31 through Hamilton County on the other hand has stoplights only at the crossover streets and pratically all businesses are connected via those crossing streets and frontage roads. This arrangement makes the conversion of US 31 to a freeway much easier in my opinion and is probably the main reason US 23 south of Delaware probably won't be one in the foreseeable future.
That means Hamilton County had a much better planning department than Delaware County.
Quote from: ftballfan on January 05, 2013, 10:18:06 PM
That means Hamilton County had a much better planning department than Delaware County.
You can plan to your heart's content.
https://www.aaroads.com/forum/index.php?topic=5537.0 (map of proposed highway additions for Del.Co Ohio from 1986)
The better question is why didn't the state, county, and township(s) follow through with their proposals.
Bump.
Odot has posted the three alternatives for the interchange. They all look pretty similar. One thing I'm noticing is that they don't have a ramp for I71 Southbound Traffic to get off there, but there is a ramp for Northbound traffic to get on I71.
http://www.dot.state.oh.us/districts/D06/projects/71/Pages/default.aspx
I'm still not sure why they're making this Interchange. One thing I'm thinking is that the entire interchange looks very similar to the I71 Polaris/Gemini interchange, making me think that they might be throwing a giant mall there akin to Easton or Polaris in Columbus. I wonder if Sunbury is going to become a giant mall town someday.
They actually don't build malls any more. The new outlet "mall" in the vicinity is outside access. I'm pretty sure no new 100% enclosed malls have been built since 2006 in the U.S.
Quote from: alecscradle on July 04, 2016, 11:10:01 AM
Bump.
Odot has posted the three alternatives for the interchange. They all look pretty similar. One thing I'm noticing is that they don't have a ramp for I71 Southbound Traffic to get off there, but there is a ramp for Northbound traffic to get on I71.
http://www.dot.state.oh.us/districts/D06/projects/71/Pages/default.aspx
I'm still not sure why they're making this Interchange.
Even with the very small number of interchanges on 71 already, Delaware County has been growing rapidly since the 90s. It may not be obvious looking at a road map, but there's a lot of people living on those "country roads". In some places, the houses are double-stacked: even the upper middle class folks who want to live "in the country" have neighbors in their back yards.
So you've got freeway access for half a nearly-suburban county, half a dozen blue logo signs' worth of businesses serving the long distance motorist, a brand new outlet mall,
and a not-insignificant regional through route – that's a lot for a single diamond interchange to handle.
I stopped at the Flying J there this past weekend. Thanks especially to that new outlet mall, traffic is now even heavier there, even with the new lanes and other improvements they made. They had police officers out working the traffic lights at the highway ramps to help get traffic through easier. It looks like there is a bunch of other land there available for development, so that interchange could possibly be experiencing even more traffic.
Yeah, I'd say it's needed.
They had a public meeting for this project on the 20th, and this was the handout: http://www.dot.state.oh.us/districts/D06/projects/71/Documents/October%202016/Handout.pdf
Wow 2035 seems like a long time for the project to get fully complete. I'm betting they'll move some of those phases up the pipeline. Especially considering the growth in that area.
Another meeting, for July 11 at Northgate Church (west of Sunbury).
http://www.dot.state.oh.us/districts/D06/projects/71/Pages/default.aspx (http://www.dot.state.oh.us/districts/D06/projects/71/Pages/default.aspx)
More about tomorrow's ODOT get-together in Sunbury.
http://www.dispatch.com/news/20170710/plans-crawl-ahead-for-new-i-71-interchange-north-of-columbus (http://www.dispatch.com/news/20170710/plans-crawl-ahead-for-new-i-71-interchange-north-of-columbus)
I stopped by for a few minutes. I'm pretty sure there was no new information presented; they were just explaining things to the muggles and giving people a chance to comment on-record. All the exhibits looked like what I've already seen on the web.
Quote from: vtk on July 13, 2017, 07:54:49 AM
I stopped by for a few minutes. I'm pretty sure there was no new information presented; they were just explaining things to the muggles and giving people a chance to comment on-record. All the exhibits looked like what I've already seen on the web.
Yep. It is a fait compleit. I thought 36/37 would be rerouted onto Sunbury Pkwy, but the consultants there claimed it would not. They also mentioned that there are plans afoot to limit access along 36/37, between Alum Creek & Delaware. Their priority is to get driveways off of 36/37 and construct service roads (like 161 between Busch Blvd and 3-C) to collect traffic.
BTW, VTK, did you notice the (semi-) abandoned service road at the entrance to the church (where the meeting was held)?
Quote from: Hot Rod Hootenanny on July 14, 2017, 10:25:35 PM
Quote from: vtk on July 13, 2017, 07:54:49 AM
I stopped by for a few minutes. I'm pretty sure there was no new information presented; they were just explaining things to the muggles and giving people a chance to comment on-record. All the exhibits looked like what I've already seen on the web.
Yep. It is a fait compleit. I thought 36/37 would be rerouted onto Sunbury Pkwy, but the consultants there claimed it would not. They also mentioned that there are plans afoot to limit access along 36/37, between Alum Creek & Delaware. Their priority is to get driveways off of 36/37 and construct service roads (like 161 between Busch Blvd and 3-C) to collect traffic.
BTW, VTK, did you notice the (semi-) abandoned service road at the entrance to the church (where the meeting was held)?
I suspect, despite what you say was said at the meeting, that 36/37 will be routed on the new roadway and the existing roadway will either be OH 436 or revert to Delaware County. I did notice that Longhorn Dr there, but I didn't think it was particularly interesting at the time.
Quote from: vtk on July 19, 2017, 09:23:05 PM
Quote from: Hot Rod Hootenanny on July 14, 2017, 10:25:35 PM
Quote from: vtk on July 13, 2017, 07:54:49 AM
I stopped by for a few minutes. I'm pretty sure there was no new information presented; they were just explaining things to the muggles and giving people a chance to comment on-record. All the exhibits looked like what I've already seen on the web.
They also mentioned that there are plans afoot to limit access along 36/37, between Alum Creek & Delaware. Their priority is to get driveways off of 36/37 and construct service roads (like 161 between Busch Blvd and 3-C) to collect traffic.
BTW, VTK, did you notice the (semi-) abandoned service road at the entrance to the church (where the meeting was held)?
I did notice that Longhorn Dr there, but I didn't think it was particularly interesting at the time.
I mention it because that would be an example of how ODOT/County would be routing access off of 36/37 in the future (whenever that will be)
More meetings concerning the entire 36-37 megaplex in Delaware County. These will be conducted by county officials however (not ODOT)
http://www.delgazette.com/news/61729/delaware-county-seeks-input-on-3637-corridor-development (http://www.delgazette.com/news/61729/delaware-county-seeks-input-on-3637-corridor-development)
First public meeting is scheduled for 6 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 3 at Berkshire Township Hall, 1454 Rome Corners Road, Galena.
Second will take place at 6 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 5 at Berlin Township Hall, 3271 Cheshire Road, Delaware.
The slow process of acquiring funding for the new interchange begins.
http://www.delgazette.com/news/64926/trac-approves-10-million-for-i-71-project (http://www.delgazette.com/news/64926/trac-approves-10-million-for-i-71-project)
https://www.delgazette.com/news/80114/state-to-invest-8-million-in-the-point
While "the point" (railroad bridge over US 36/Oh 37 on the east side of Delaware) gets the headline, buried in the story is that ODOT will go ahead with construction of a new interchange for I-71 to Tanger Outlet (because developers and local gov't will foot that bill)
That's nice to see, as well as "the point" part too. Both will improve the 36/37 to 71 option for bypassing the Delaware to Columbus section of 23.
https://www.delgazette.com/news/92514/odot-funding-includes-future-county-projects
QuoteGary Budzak | The Gazette
COLUMBUS – The Ohio Department of Transportation's Transportation Advisory Council (TRAC) gave final approval last week to its annual list of projects to receive more than $292 million in funding over the next four years.
A couple of those projects are based in Delaware County.
First is $8 million committed for detailed design of U.S. Route 36/state Route 37 (widening of the roads and replacement of the railroad bridge at the point) in fiscal year 2023. This $32.4 million project, according to ODOT's Final 2022-2025 Major New Construction Program List, is fully-funded, with $9.5 million total from TAC, $3 million from ODOT and $19.9 million in local funding.
Second is $10 million committed for right-of-way acquisition in fiscal year 2024 on the US 36/SR 37/Interstate 71 project's Phase A: construction of new interchange south of existing interchange. The $31.9 million project is fully-funded, with the other $21.9 million coming from local funding.
Third is $2 million committed for a US 23 corridor study (evaluation of a connection between US 23 and I-71) in fiscal year 2022. If it were to be constructed as estimated, the cost could reach $1.2 billion. The remainder has not been funded.
Last is $1 million committed for detailed design of the extension of the proposed Sunbury Parkway in 2022; and $4 million in right-of-way acquisition in fiscal year 2024. This project would cost $51.2 million, with $46.2 million currently unfunded. The road would be in the area of routes 36/37 and I-71.
One Delaware County-based project that did not receive TRAC funding was for the Big Walnut Interchange. The $67.4 million project would consist of the construction of a new interchange at Big Walnut Road and the widening of I-71. The project funding plan has $30 million currently unfunded, with $3.6 million from ODOT and $33.8 million in local funding.
TRAC-funded projects were paused last year due to the drop in traffic volume, resulting in a decline in motor fuel tax revenue. Altogether, there were 57 applications submitted this year, requesting $551 million in funding.
The nine-member council was established in 1997 to help ODOT determine construction projects in three tiers on an annual application cycle. Tier I are projects recommended for construction over the next four years, Tier II projects require additional activities before construction (such as preliminary engineering, detailed design, right-of-way acquisition), and Tier III projects had its previous phases funded over a longer period of time.
The first two projects – US 36/SR 37 and US 36/SR 37/I-71 – were considered to be Tier I construction commitments; the corridor study and I-71/Big Walnut Road projects were listed as Tier II development commitments; and the two-phase extension of Sunbury Parkway was considered a Tier III development commitment.
"As traffic volumes increase, we will continue to be good stewards of the resources entrusted to us," said ODOT Director Jack Marchbanks, in a news release. "Ohio's economy is growing. Safe, accessible, and well-maintained transportation infrastructure is key to sustaining that economic growth and improving the quality of life for Ohioans."
"Our economy depends on smart investments that make our transportation system safe and efficient," said Gov. Mike DeWine in the same news news release. "The projects approved today will keep our economy moving forward."
Gary Budzak may be reached at 740-413-0906 or on Twitter @GaryBudzak.
Future projects include the US 23 corridor and the new US 36/OH 37 & I-71 interchange south of the existing one in years to come.
Some construction funding for this new interchange in 2025 is on the new TRAC draft list
Here's the TRAC application:
https://www.dot.state.oh.us/trac/2023Apps/DEL%2071%208.91%20(Ph%20A).pdf
Interchange at Big Walnut, though Tier II has no funding listed through 2026. I assume that effectively kills that project whereas Sunbury Parkway "extension and widening", a Tier III project has funding for RW.
Quote from: Black-Man on February 13, 2024, 10:23:31 PM
Interchange at Big Walnut, though Tier II has no funding listed through 2026. I assume that effectively kills that project whereas Sunbury Parkway "extension and widening", a Tier III project has funding for RW.
From the full draft TRAC list (https://www.transportation.ohio.gov/wps/wcm/connect/gov/c9c8154b-ea80-43ed-bcb5-967698063dd6/DRAFT+2024-2027+Major+New+ConstructIon+Program+List+%281.31.2024%29.pdf?MOD=AJPERES&CONVERT_TO=url&CACHEID=ROOTWORKSPACE.Z18_M1HGGIK0N0JO00QO9DDDDM3000-c9c8154b-ea80-43ed-bcb5-967698063dd6-oR.Ih0P), the Big Walnut interchange appears to be half funded through local contributions. The project is not dead; there are other projects that are higher up the priority list.