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Interstate 71 miscellany thread

Started by vtk, August 25, 2015, 05:05:55 PM

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Hot Rod Hootenanny

Quote from: Buck87 on January 15, 2021, 09:40:54 AM
Noticed another one of these signs on I-77 northbound approaching I-70 that was a bit different in its approach. Instead of showing the time time to various route numbers, it showed the time to the control cities for the 3 directions of the upcoming interchange (Cleveland, Columbus and Wheeling.)

There are variations of that for each direction (70/77) approaching Cambridge.
Please, don't sue Alex & Andy over what I wrote above


Hot Rod Hootenanny

https://www.dispatch.com/story/news/2021/09/21/ohios-deadliest-5-mile-stretch-interstate-71-columbus-franklin-county-most-fatal-crashes-88-counties/5786913001/

(since the Dispatch is paywalled....)
If you've always thought Columbus drivers were bad, now you have some proof.

An analysis of the latest federal fatal traffic crash data found that a portion of Interstate 71 in Columbus ranked as the deadliest 5-mile stretch of roadway in Ohio during a three-year period.

MoneyGeek, a personal finance technology company, analyzed three years of National Highway Traffic Safety Administration data on fatal crashes between 2017 and 2019 and found that 10 fatal crashes occurred on I-71 between 11th Avenue to the south and Morse Road to the north – the most for any 5-mile stretch in the state.

Additionally, Franklin County had the most fatal crashes of any of Ohio's 88 counties, with 270 fatal crashes resulting in 287 deaths, the report found.

The San Francisco-based company compiled and released the report in order to gain insight into where fatal crashes often occur and understand any contributing factors, said Doug Milnes, a data analyst and spokesman for MoneyGeek.

"We undertook this study to help individuals identify the local roads that are more dangerous so individuals can make safe choices while driving them," Milnes said. "In some instances, there's an opportunity for authorities to make positive changes to roads."

ODOT: 'Developing plans for a solution' to deadly I-71 stretch
The stretch of I-71 singled out in the MoneyGeek analysis is already a priority for the Ohio Department of Transportation, said Breanna Badanes, a spokeswoman for ODOT in the Greater Columbus area. Because the corridor runs through a densely populated residential and business area, Badanes said ODOT is considering solutions that would minimize the disruption to the surrounding area. 

"We're already studying the corridor and have committed funding to develop plans for a solution," Badanes said in an email after the Dispatch shared the MoneyGeek report's findings. "The crashes primarily occur in locations where bottlenecks develop, which is why addressing the congestion will be key to improving safety."

ODOT's statewide safety program is the 4th-largest in the nation, with more than $150 million dedicated to safety improvements each year, Badanes said.

MoneyGeek analyzed 3,129 fatal crashes in Ohio – including ones that involved pedestrians and bicyclists –  and found that more that 1,800 roads in the state were the scene of fatal crashes during those three years.

Based on the report's findings, Franklin County's roadways appear to be particularly dangerous for motorists.

The 287 people who died in that three-year period on Franklin County's roadways is 43 more than people who died in traffic crashes in that timespan in Cuyahoga County, the report found. The majority of those fatal crashes (17) occurred along Interstate 270.

And within Columbus alone, 182 fatal crashes occurred between 2017 and 2019, resulting in 198 deaths.

Two of state's four deadliest 5-mile stretches are in Columbus
Of the four deadliest 5-mile stretches of roadway in Ohio, two are located in Columbus.

In addition to the I-71 stretch that ranked first, Cleveland Avenue between Huy Road in North Linden and Maplewood Drive on the Northeast Side ranked fourth, according to MoneyGeek's analysis.

The Cleveland Avenue stretch is a busy undivided highway with vehicles coming into the roadway from intersections and businesses, Milnes said. In 2020, there was construction on the Downtown stretch of Cleveland Avenue to improve safety, although the project was south of the highlighted 5-mile stretch, Milnes noted.

The second-deadliest 5-mile stretch in Ohio was Interstate 75 in Cincinnati between Allen Road and Glendale Milford Road, while Interstate 480 between Broadview Road and Exit 20A at the I-71 interchange in Independence, south of Cleveland, ranked third.

In March, Columbus Mayor Andrew J. Ginther released the city's Vision Zero Initiative, which is meant to improve safety in areas of the city with the highest likelihood of traffic fatalities by lowering speed limits or redesigning streets.

September deadliest month in Ohio for fatal crashes
In Ohio, September had the most fatal crashes of any month between 2017 and 2019 – about 10.4% – likely due to the amount of motorists traveling during Labor Day weekends.

However, Milnes noted that while the location of fatal crashes can be instructive, the factors contributing to the wrecks may be far more informative.

"Even the most trafficked and deadly roads contribute a fraction of the total fatal accidents," he said.

For instance, 45 fatal crashes occurred between 2017 and 2019 along the entirety of Interstate 70 from Pennsylvania to Indiana, comprising less than 2% of all deaths in Ohio.

Yet 31% of fatal crashes in Ohio involved drunken driving, and 25% involved motorists driving at a high rate of speed, according to accident investigation reports. Distracted driving was reported by traffic investigators to be involved in just 6% of fatal crashes, leading MoneyGeek to rank Ohio 37th in the nation for distracted driving.

"An unanticipated but, in retrospect, obvious conclusion," Milnes said, "is that our individual choices behind the wheel add up to be a bigger factor than the individual road or driving condition."
Please, don't sue Alex & Andy over what I wrote above

Rothman

Stats weren't normalized to account for VMT or volume.  Without normalization, you can't compare 5 mile segments across a atate.
Please note: All comments here represent my own personal opinion and do not reflect the official position(s) of NYSDOT.

74/171FAN

When I drove I-71 NB in Columbus heading to the Cleveland Meet, I was shocked in that heading northbound it exited off of itself in order to access I-70 EB.  Personally, I see that as a bigger concern than north of downtown, but what do I know.
I am now a PennDOT employee.  My opinions/views do not necessarily reflect the opinions/views of PennDOT.

SkyPesos

Quote from: 74/171FAN on September 28, 2021, 07:10:30 AM
When I drove I-71 NB in Columbus heading to the Cleveland Meet, I was shocked in that heading northbound it exited off of itself in order to access I-70 EB.  Personally, I see that as a bigger concern than north of downtown, but what do I know.
You're referring to the single lane NB 71 movement in the western I-70/71 interchange right? I think that whole interchange will be redone in the coming years as part of Phase 6 in the "70/71 Ramp Up"  project, but as of now, there's 2 alternative routings to avoid that: 71-315-670-71 or 71-315-270-71.

74/171FAN

Quote from: SkyPesos on September 28, 2021, 08:58:39 AM
Quote from: 74/171FAN on September 28, 2021, 07:10:30 AM
When I drove I-71 NB in Columbus heading to the Cleveland Meet, I was shocked in that heading northbound it exited off of itself in order to access I-70 EB.  Personally, I see that as a bigger concern than north of downtown, but what do I know.
You're referring to the single lane NB 71 movement in the western I-70/71 interchange right? I think that whole interchange will be redone in the coming years as part of Phase 6 in the "70/71 Ramp Up"  project, but as of now, there's 2 alternative routings to avoid that: 71-315-670-71 or 71-315-270-71.

Yes, you are correct.
I am now a PennDOT employee.  My opinions/views do not necessarily reflect the opinions/views of PennDOT.

SkyPesos

A few photos I took earlier today of the new signage (w/ the new style larger curved exit tabs in Ohio) that's on I-71 from downtown Cincinnati up to about I-275. It replaced older signs, most of which are button copy. Note that replacements started as early as 2018, but coming back from college, this is the first time I noticed that they have all been replaced.




















thenetwork

In the case of the closed Kennedy exit signs -- hasn't the ODOT norm been to just place a diagonal CLOSED sign across the center of the sign?

SkyPesos

Quote from: thenetwork on May 11, 2022, 07:41:44 PM
In the case of the closed Kennedy exit signs -- hasn't the ODOT norm been to just place a diagonal CLOSED sign across the center of the sign?
I have no idea. But what I found unusual is that the sign at where the ramp would be is entirely covered up. And the Kennedy Ave ramp project was supposed to be part of the general I-71 improvements project in that area, but for some reason, the construction equipment are gone without that part done, and no mention of the ramp on ODOT's site either. You think they would keep it consistent and cover all the signs fully if the ramp wouldn't be finished for another year or two.

amroad17

Is the Kennedy Ave overpass supposed to be replaced?  The reason I am asking is this: https://goo.gl/maps/HYnMQ1XvFvXBbQiV9

Maybe that is why EXIT 8C is closed.  From other street views, currently there is not a ramp leading from I-71 North to Kennedy--only a closed ramp from Kennedy to I-71 North.

EXIT 8C used to be signed for Ridge Ave North (8A was for Ridge Ave South), however, that loop ramp is also currently closed.  It will probably be demolished whenever the Kennedy ramp is constructed, I guess.

Obviously, a reconstructed ramp from Kennedy to I-71 North will be done as seen by how close the new EXIT 9 overhead sign was placed so close to the current ramp.
https://goo.gl/maps/FThxH9R5DSGoR98p8  I cannot see using the current ramp with the structure that close to the road surface.
I don't need a GPS.  I AM the GPS! (for family and friends)

Great Lakes Roads

Quote from: amroad17 on May 18, 2022, 02:01:53 AM
Is the Kennedy Ave overpass supposed to be replaced?  The reason I am asking is this: https://goo.gl/maps/HYnMQ1XvFvXBbQiV9

Maybe that is why EXIT 8C is closed.  From other street views, currently there is not a ramp leading from I-71 North to Kennedy--only a closed ramp from Kennedy to I-71 North.

EXIT 8C used to be signed for Ridge Ave North (8A was for Ridge Ave South), however, that loop ramp is also currently closed.  It will probably be demolished whenever the Kennedy ramp is constructed, I guess.

Obviously, a reconstructed ramp from Kennedy to I-71 North will be done as seen by how close the new EXIT 9 overhead sign was placed so close to the current ramp.
https://goo.gl/maps/FThxH9R5DSGoR98p8  I cannot see using the current ramp with the structure that close to the road surface.

It looks like EXIT 8C got removed permanently, as seen here on Ridge Ave: https://www.google.com/maps/@39.1666885,-84.4232852,3a,75y,72.83h,83.59t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1s5cHtdL4MngvKHIKUEE16vA!2e0!7i16384!8i8192

amroad17

This appears to be the beginning to transform the area into a Kennedy off-ramp from I-71.

Maybe mods can include the entirety of I-71 in this thread since we are discussing an area 53 miles south of the "cut-off" point.  :nod:
I don't need a GPS.  I AM the GPS! (for family and friends)

dvferyance

#37
Quote from: Buck87 on December 28, 2015, 07:15:50 PM
I was on 71 earlier this month and noticed that there are blue median mile markers every 0.2 miles from Columbus all the way to Cleveland, and in many cases the green ones on the shoulder side were gone. Are they phasing out the green ones?
Wisconsin is doing more of that. They got them now on I-94 the whole way between Milwaukee and Madison and on I-90/94 all the way to the Tomah split. Previously they only went as far as the Dells. They are everywhere in Tennessee as well. I think using these everywhere is a waste of money. They should only be used in the urban areas like they were before.

SkyPesos

On the topic of the blue mile markers, I wonder why the rest of the urban areas in the state only use 0.2 interval ones, instead of 0.1 like in Cincinnati?

wriddle082

Quote from: SkyPesos on May 18, 2022, 09:35:41 PM
On the topic of the blue mile markers, I wonder why the rest of the urban areas in the state only use 0.2 interval ones, instead of 0.1 like in Cincinnati?

Cincinnati was one of the first metros to even put up these blue mile markers, which I have seen in place as early as 1997, so they could be a little bit older than that.

Tennessee now appears to have these markers every 0.2 miles statewide on every interstate.  Possibly a few other state route freeways as well, but mostly the urban ones that have exit numbers and don't cross county lines (state route mile markers in TN reset at county lines).

SkyPesos

2 images I took a week ago of the construction of a new ramp from Mason-Montgomery SB to I-71 SB (exit 19):






thenetwork

^^  I think you posted on the wrong I-71 thread.  42 miles off...

dvferyance

Quote from: vtk on November 15, 2015, 03:48:01 AM
Lots of work in the median now for the widening project from OH 665 to Stringtown Road in Grove City. I imagine once that's done, the need for improvements at the 270 interchange will be felt even more strongly.
Is the proposed interchange at Hoover Rd still in the works?

SkyPesos

Quote from: thenetwork on July 06, 2022, 07:35:19 PM
^^  I think you posted on the wrong I-71 thread.  42 miles off...
It's a niche topic, so I don't want to bump the other (dead) thread and just keep stuff about I-71 in Ohio in this one thread.

vtk

Quote from: dvferyance on July 06, 2022, 07:45:55 PM
Quote from: vtk on November 15, 2015, 03:48:01 AM
Lots of work in the median now for the widening project from OH 665 to Stringtown Road in Grove City. I imagine once that's done, the need for improvements at the 270 interchange will be felt even more strongly.
Is the proposed interchange at Hoover Rd still in the works?

No such project is listed in MORPC's metro transportation plan, and I don't think I'd ever heard of such a proposal.
Wait, it's all Ohio? Always has been.

SkyPesos

Quote from: vtk on August 02, 2022, 03:16:37 PM
Quote from: dvferyance on July 06, 2022, 07:45:55 PM
Quote from: vtk on November 15, 2015, 03:48:01 AM
Lots of work in the median now for the widening project from OH 665 to Stringtown Road in Grove City. I imagine once that's done, the need for improvements at the 270 interchange will be felt even more strongly.
Is the proposed interchange at Hoover Rd still in the works?

No such project is listed in MORPC's metro transportation plan, and I don't think I'd ever heard of such a proposal.
The only place I've seen mention a Hoover Rd interchange is Wikipedia's exit list with no source cited. Probably not a thing at all then.

SkyPesos

Drove on all of I-71 north of Cincy yesterday, and noticed that the 6 lane section south of Columbus has been extended to just south of the US 62/OH 3 interchange (about MM 92). Construction for widening is also going on south of there for the next several miles.

Note to OP: You can remove the mile marker limits from the thread title, now that the Great Lakes and Ohio Valley boards have been merged.

Hot Rod Hootenanny

Quote from: SkyPesos on June 05, 2023, 01:40:56 AM
Drove on all of I-71 north of Cincy yesterday, and noticed that the 6 lane section south of Columbus has been extended to just south of the US 62/OH 3 interchange (about MM 92). Construction for widening is also going on south of there for the next several miles.


Down to the Franklin/Pickaway County line.
ODOT's next goal is the Pickaway/Madison County line.
Please, don't sue Alex & Andy over what I wrote above

SkyPesos

Drove on I-71 south of Cincy today. Some things I noticed:

- The replaced enhanced mile markers on the 71/75 concurrency no longer have I-71 shields on them, only I-75.
- Surprisingly lots of trucks on this road south of the I-75 split, which I didn't experience in the past. My average speed here was lower than when I drove on I-70 in MO and I-65 north of Indy.
- Looks like there's a widening project going on south of KY exit 14. I wonder if this is the northern point the widening project would go, or would it be continued further north in the future.

iBallasticwolf2

Quote from: SkyPesos on June 07, 2023, 01:24:22 PM
- Surprisingly lots of trucks on this road south of the I-75 split, which I didn't experience in the past. My average speed here was lower than when I drove on I-70 in MO and I-65 north of Indy.
- Looks like there's a widening project going on south of KY exit 14. I wonder if this is the northern point the widening project would go, or would it be continued further north in the future.

I drive I-71 between Louisville and Walton quite often. You are correct about the massive amount of trucks. It is usually ok but sometimes it causes issues because of the hills, since I-71 has absolutely no truck climbing lanes and only a very short 6 lane stretch at the Sparta Speedway.
The widening project between Exit 14 (KY 329) is part of iMove Kentucky. There are planned future widening projects (you can see it on the public KYTC 6 year highway plan) planned to go all the way up to Exit 28 (KY 153), although it will take a long time to get that far. There is also a planned project on I-71 in Boone and Gallatin County that includes widening and rebuilding I-71 at the nasty S curve just north of US 127, although I'm not sure of the specifics of it.
Only two things are infinite in this world, stupidity, and I-75 construction



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