The Ohio Turnpike revealed many of their 2016 construction spots, including replacing some of the original 60+ year-old concrete below the asphalt surfaces.
Story: http://www.cleveland.com/metro/index.ssf/2015/12/ohio_turnpike_plans_143_millio.html#incart_river_home_pop
Traveled the Ohio Turnpike and Indiana Toll Road from Youngstown to South Bend on the Sunday after Thanksgiving.
I never appreciated the three lane portion of the Ohio Turnpike more than I did that day. A relatively stress free run from Youngstown to Toledo, although the people who just park themselves in the middle lane was frustrating.
The only real issue was when we stopped at the Indian Meadows Service Plaza at MP 20 around 2:30. Cars were lined up about 10 deep to get gas and there were very few parking spaces available. We simply drove out of the car parking area to the truck entrance and left without stopping. We got off at the free Exit 2 to eat and use the restroom.
With Indiana having closed the Fremont travel plaza permanently and closing the Howe travel plaza for renovation and Ohio having closed the Oak Opening plaza at MP 49 a few years back, Indian Meadow is the only service plaza open now between Blue Heron in Ohio and Elkhart in Indiana. It is 56 miles from Blue Heron to Indian Meadow and 87 miles from Indian Meadow to Elkhart.
Given the total lack of services at the exits in Ohio west of Toledo, i should have followed my instincts and exited at Ohio 108 and drove the few miles in to Wauseon to eat.
^^ We've traveled from South Bend to Cleveland several times in recent months and noticed the lack of service plazas. Travelers really have to plan their stops carefully. We have resorted to leaving the road a time or two in desperation.
Don't think of it as an inconvenience. It is supporting local businesses...
...which is why you don't see many full plazas going up anymore.
Quote from: Rothman on November 29, 2016, 02:34:53 PM
Don't think of it as an inconvenience. It is supporting local businesses...
...which is why you don't see many full plazas going up anymore.
The Turnpike west of Toledo is very remote. I don't see many if any services near the turnpike at the exits. So I agree these plazas are needed. Ohio needs to rebuild the ones at MM49 in the near future.
Quote from: theline on November 29, 2016, 02:18:00 PM
^^ We've traveled from South Bend to Cleveland several times in recent months and noticed the lack of service plazas. Travelers really have to plan their stops carefully. We have resorted to leaving the road a time or two in desperation.
It's about a 260 mile, 4 hour trip, which can be accomplished without a single stop! And if you've traveled the road several times recently, by now you should be getting to know where the service plazas are. Stopping at one when you know it's going to be a while before you see another one isn't a bad idea.
The Indiana Toll Road is in the process of rebuilding their travel plazas. Upon the completion of the project, all fuel services at them will be provided by SUNOCO. As SUNOCO is the only fuel provider on the New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Ohio Turnpikes, this means that anyone motoring, via the turnpikes, from New York to Chicago would be fueled exclusively with SUNOCO products.
Quote from: jeffandnicole on November 29, 2016, 03:26:58 PM
Quote from: theline on November 29, 2016, 02:18:00 PM
^^ We've traveled from South Bend to Cleveland several times in recent months and noticed the lack of service plazas. Travelers really have to plan their stops carefully. We have resorted to leaving the road a time or two in desperation.
It's about a 260 mile, 4 hour trip, which can be accomplished without a single stop! And if you've traveled the road several times recently, by now you should be getting to know where the service plazas are. Stopping at one when you know it's going to be a while before you see another one isn't a bad idea.
You have never taken a trip with Mrs. theline, or you wouldn't be claiming that the entire trip can be made without stopping. :bigass: Like I said, advance planning is essential. As dvferyance correctly pointed out, the Turnpike west of Toledo is very remote and services can be very hard to find.
The best thing to do would be to stop at Angola, IN (Exit 144) if you are heading east or at Stony Creek, OH (Exit 71) if you are heading west. Therefore, the desolate section between Maumee and Angola doesn't come into play.
I also applaud the Ohio Turnpike for installing mileage signs over the last decade.
When motoring westbound, I stay overnight in Maumee (MM 59). In the morning I continue to Chicagoland non-stop. Eastbound, I drive non-stop to the Wyandot service area (MM 76). Each stint is about four hours.
Those Indiana rest stops can't be reconstructed fast enough. They are/were disgusting and an embarrassing reflection on the state. Ohio's rest stops are the best I've ever seen in the US -- always clean, bright, and a good variety of services.
Quote from: westerninterloper on January 18, 2017, 09:14:09 PM
Those Indiana rest stops can't be reconstructed fast enough. They are/were disgusting and an embarrassing reflection on the state. Ohio's rest stops are the best I've ever seen in the US -- always clean, bright, and a good variety of services.
Ohio's are pretty good. You want a really nice one? The new ones on I-93 in New Hampshire. Those are worth a special trip.
Guess what the Ohio Turnpike will be getting in a couple of years??
Open-Road Tolling (ORT) Lanes at both the Eastgate and Westgate Toll Plazas!! :clap: :clap: :clap:
Also in the plans will be TWO new mainline toll plazas, one in Lucas and one in Trumbull counties (TP 49 and TP 211)...
Interestingly enough, they will take the toll plazas out at Exits 13, 23, 34, and 39 in Lucas County and Exits 215, 216, 218, 232, and 234 in Trumbull County, thus having a "free section" before and/or after the statelines...
EDIT: Did not realized that the Eastgate Toll Plaza is going to be tolled to Westbound drivers only...
https://www.cleveland.com/metro/2019/03/ohio-turnpike-will-remove-gates-for-e-zpass-riders.html
http://www.cleveland19.com/2019/03/20/ohio-turnpike-removing-toll-gates-plan-modernize/
https://www.wkyc.com/article/news/local/ohio-turnpike-will-be-losing-toll-booths/95-c7397bfb-f8fd-4422-9819-3c23720178d9
https://www.ohioturnpike.org/docs/default-source/Procurement/otic-construction-forecast-2018---oca-(akron).pdf?sfvrsn=2
Go to 28-29 and 34-35 to see maps and plans on what they are going to do...
Interesting.
But it looks like with the new mainline barriers, there will still be a ticket-based system unless you are using the high-speed EZ-Pass lanes. What's the point of the ticket if license plate readers are being installed?
Quote from: seicer on March 21, 2019, 09:04:39 AM
Interesting.
But it looks like with the new mainline barriers, there will still be a ticket-based system unless you are using the high-speed EZ-Pass lanes. What's the point of the ticket if license plate readers are being installed?
Tag readers are to go after those that don't pay. The Ohio Tpk doesn't want to go all-electronic just yet. Also, many of the travelers on the Tpk are from out-of-state, so EZ Pass usage on the Turnpike may not justify going all-AET, which means the average motorist won't be paying their toll upwards of 30-60 days after going thru the toll plaza (if they pay at all). A sudden delay of receiving payment of tolls of 1 - 2 months is a *huge* loss of revenue in a year for a toll agency - Heck, for any business, for that matter.
indiana will really need High speed lanes after this. or at least GATE FREE etc only lanes.
Quote from: Joe The Dragon on March 21, 2019, 10:18:14 PM
indiana will really need High speed lanes after this. or at least GATE FREE etc only lanes.
The WBD backups in Portage can be pretty awful; high-speed EZ-Pass lanes would be a big improvement!
Quote from: JREwing78 on March 23, 2019, 09:55:48 PM
Quote from: Joe The Dragon on March 21, 2019, 10:18:14 PM
indiana will really need High speed lanes after this. or at least GATE FREE etc only lanes.
The WBD backups in Portage can be pretty awful; high-speed EZ-Pass lanes would be a big improvement!
even low speed (5 - 15 MPH) gate free can help. I once all most took one out one day think it's like the ramp tolls in IL in the I-pass only lanes.
So one of the new mainline toll barriers is going to be west of Exit 52
I wonder, is it going to be built on the former location of the MM 49 service plazas?
Quote from: Buck87 on March 25, 2019, 10:41:53 AM
So one of the new mainline toll barriers is going to be west of Exit 52
I wonder, is it going to be built on the former location of the MM 49 service plazas?
Probably.
Who maintains the approach signage on surface routes at Turnpike exits, ODOT or OTC?
Just wondering since the ones at the OH 4 exit now have new taller and wider posts installed directly behind them and will soon be replaced. I'm referring to the green "80/90 Ohio Turnpike 1/4 mile" signs as well as the green "Ohio Turnpike <--" signs at the intersection. At least one of the signs being replaced is button copy.
Quote from: Buck87 on March 30, 2019, 09:41:45 PM
Who maintains the approach signage on surface routes at Turnpike exits, ODOT or OTC?
Just wondering since the ones at the OH 4 exit now have new taller and wider posts installed directly behind them and will soon be replaced. I'm referring to the green "80/90 Ohio Turnpike 1/4 mile" signs as well as the green "Ohio Turnpike <--" signs at the intersection. At least one of the signs being replaced is button copy.
I believe it is ODOT's Responsibility to create and maintain any BGS approach signs to the Pike. Any ground mounted OHIO TURNPIKE gore signs are from the OTC.
The OTC also created and maintained the original white-on-green Turnpike trailblazers. Not sure who does the current Ohio Turnpike trailblazer signs, though.
The plain "Ohio Turnpike" entrance signs at OH 4 have been replaced with larger ones that actually have 80 & 90 shields on them.
VS988
Quote from: Great Lakes Roads on March 21, 2019, 04:31:51 AM
Interestingly enough, they will take the toll plazas out at Exits 13, 23, 34, and 39 in Lucas County and Exits 215, 216, 218, 232, and 234 in Trumbull County, thus having a "free section" before and/or after the statelines...
https://www.ohioturnpike.org/docs/default-source/Procurement/otic-construction-forecast-2018---oca-(akron).pdf?sfvrsn=2
Go to 28-29 and 34-35 to see maps and plans on what they are going to do...
Not to quibble, but there still will be tolls collected at the current locations of Westgate and Eastgate (yes, westbound only at Eastgate), so the road won't be "free" between MM 0-49, 211-241.
Has anyone been able to figure out what the significance is of the one vertical and one diagonal dashed lines at MM 32.2 and MM 220.8 on the map on page 28 of that PDF on the OTC website?? Are these also electronic toll collection points? Guessing not, based on how the slide reads ("Provides non-tolled trips for local travelers within TP 13 thru 39 and within TP 216 thru 232"). There's no discussion of what these lines designate.
Quote from: drrosenrosen on April 25, 2019, 03:26:23 AM
Quote from: Great Lakes Roads on March 21, 2019, 04:31:51 AM
Interestingly enough, they will take the toll plazas out at Exits 13, 23, 34, and 39 in Lucas County and Exits 215, 216, 218, 232, and 234 in Trumbull County, thus having a "free section" before and/or after the statelines...
https://www.ohioturnpike.org/docs/default-source/Procurement/otic-construction-forecast-2018---oca-(akron).pdf?sfvrsn=2
Go to 28-29 and 34-35 to see maps and plans on what they are going to do...
Not to quibble, but there still will be tolls collected at the current locations of Westgate and Eastgate (yes, westbound only at Eastgate), so the road won't be "free" between MM 0-49, 211-241.
Has anyone been able to figure out what the significance is of the one vertical and one diagonal dashed lines at MM 32.2 and MM 220.8 on the map on page 28 of that PDF on the OTC website?? Are these also electronic toll collection points? Guessing not, based on how the slide reads ("Provides non-tolled trips for local travelers within TP 13 thru 39 and within TP 216 thru 232"). There's no discussion of what these lines designate.
Yes, these two points are the theoretical points at which each toll will be based
Eg the Westgate toll will be approximately whatever the toll rate per mile x 32.2 is.
The next toll booth will be approximately whatever the toll rate per mile is x (52-32.2) assuming the traditional "ticket" system starts at Exit 52.
https://www.archboldbuckeye.com/articles/turnpike-travel-between-bryan-and-delta-to-be-free-in-future/ (https://www.archboldbuckeye.com/articles/turnpike-travel-between-bryan-and-delta-to-be-free-in-future/)
Quote from: drrosenrosen on April 25, 2019, 03:26:23 AM
Quote from: Great Lakes Roads on March 21, 2019, 04:31:51 AM
Interestingly enough, they will take the toll plazas out at Exits 13, 23, 34, and 39 in Lucas County and Exits 215, 216, 218, 232, and 234 in Trumbull County, thus having a "free section" before and/or after the statelines...
https://www.ohioturnpike.org/docs/default-source/Procurement/otic-construction-forecast-2018---oca-(akron).pdf?sfvrsn=2
Go to 28-29 and 34-35 to see maps and plans on what they are going to do...
Not to quibble, but there still will be tolls collected at the current locations of Westgate and Eastgate (yes, westbound only at Eastgate), so the road won't be "free" between MM 0-49, 211-241.
Has anyone been able to figure out what the significance is of the one vertical and one diagonal dashed lines at MM 32.2 and MM 220.8 on the map on page 28 of that PDF on the OTC website?? Are these also electronic toll collection points? Guessing not, based on how the slide reads ("Provides non-tolled trips for local travelers within TP 13 thru 39 and within TP 216 thru 232"). There's no discussion of what these lines designate.
Now will IN have gate free lanes? maybe if just main line?
I'm trying to understand this...
So let's say I'm heading to Cleveland from the Indiana state line.
At Westgate, in lieu of a ticket, I'm paying rate per mile times 32.2. At the new mainline toll barrier, I pay rate per mile times 19.8 (52-32.2). From mile 52, the Turnpike begins the "closed" toll system until east of Youngstown.
Am I close to right?
Quote from: nwi_navigator_1181 on May 27, 2020, 07:43:46 PM
I’m trying to understand this...
So let’s say I’m heading to Cleveland from the Indiana state line.
At Westgate, in lieu of a ticket, I’m paying rate per mile times 32.2. At the new mainline toll barrier, I pay rate per mile times 19.8 (52-32.2). From mile 52, the Turnpike begins the “closed” toll system until east of Youngstown.
Am I close to right?
Close. If I understand correctly, the new barrier will be the end of the ticket system. If you got on at I-480 (Exit 151), at the new tollbooth west of Toledo you'd pay the toll rate per mile * (151-32.2). At Westgate, you'd pay the toll rate per mile * (32.2).
At the east end, the end of the closed system will be west of Youngstown at Milepost 209. Beyond that, there will be no toll eastbound at Eastgate. Probably the westbound only toll at the new Eastgate will be double the toll rate per mile * (241-209).
I wonder if that could lead to the addition of future interchanges in the long term?
Quote from: Joe The Dragon on May 27, 2020, 07:21:58 PM
Quote from: drrosenrosen on April 25, 2019, 03:26:23 AM
Quote from: Great Lakes Roads on March 21, 2019, 04:31:51 AM
Interestingly enough, they will take the toll plazas out at Exits 13, 23, 34, and 39 in Lucas County and Exits 215, 216, 218, 232, and 234 in Trumbull County, thus having a "free section" before and/or after the statelines...
https://www.ohioturnpike.org/docs/default-source/Procurement/otic-construction-forecast-2018---oca-(akron).pdf?sfvrsn=2
Go to 28-29 and 34-35 to see maps and plans on what they are going to do...
Not to quibble, but there still will be tolls collected at the current locations of Westgate and Eastgate (yes, westbound only at Eastgate), so the road won't be "free" between MM 0-49, 211-241.
Has anyone been able to figure out what the significance is of the one vertical and one diagonal dashed lines at MM 32.2 and MM 220.8 on the map on page 28 of that PDF on the OTC website?? Are these also electronic toll collection points? Guessing not, based on how the slide reads ("Provides non-tolled trips for local travelers within TP 13 thru 39 and within TP 216 thru 232"). There's no discussion of what these lines designate.
Now will IN have gate free lanes? maybe if just main line?
Don't expect gate-free lanes on the ITR anytime soon...
Quote from: Stephane Dumas on May 27, 2020, 08:29:26 PM
I wonder if that could lead to the addition of future interchanges in the long term?
West of Toledo? Doubtful. There is little demand for more exits than what already exists in the rural NW.
Quote from: Hot Rod Hootenanny on May 27, 2020, 10:16:44 PM
Quote from: Stephane Dumas on May 27, 2020, 08:29:26 PM
I wonder if that could lead to the addition of future interchanges in the long term?
West of Toledo? Doubtful. There is little demand for more exits than what already exists in the rural NW.
And even then, I'd think the only ramp that would even be considered west of Toledo would be one at I-475. That's not happening anytime soon.
How I understood it is this:
First -- Based on EZPass $13.50 for the whole tpk at 241.26 miles, for these assumptions below, I'm using 5.6 cents/mile, and rounding to the nearest quarter per the Ohio Turnpike's 2020 toll schedules.
Westgate tolls would be based on 32.2 miles, so let's assume $1.75 (32.2 × $0.056)
A new barrier toll will be constructed at the former Oak Openings/Fallen Timbers/Mile 49 service plazas. This will be very similar to PA Turnpike's set up with Gateway and Warrendale.
All trips that involve hitting that mile 49 barrier will pay a toll as if they went to mile 32.2. So let's say I got on at Exit 91 (Mile 91.6).
At mile 49 barrier, I will pay $3.25 ([91.6-32.2]×$0.056).
Now with the Youngstown barrier, it's a little more confusing since the tolling is indicated to only be Westbound. (This is probably because of the PA Turnpike's Eastbound only Gateway massive $12.20 Bill Me/$5.90 EzPass toll)
I'm going to assume that means Ohio will double the toll at Westgate. The turnpike enters Ohio beginning with Mile 241.26. The reference point for tolls is 220.8 here. So I assume the toll will be $2.50. (Ok, this is showing how bad the difference in Ohio and PA's toll rates is. Wow)
From the map, the new barrier is to be at Mile 211.
Let's say I got on EB at 91 again (mile 91.6). Now I will pay a $7.25 toll at the new mile 211 barrier.
Taking this all together, let's say I drive the entire turnpike West, I would pay $14.75
-$2.50 toll at Eastgate barrier
-$10.50 toll at Mile 49 barrier
-$1.75 toll at Westgate barrier
Driving East would be $12.25
-$1.75 toll at Westgate barrier
-$10.50 toll at Mile 211 barrier
-No toll at Eastgate barrier
So a round trip for the entire tpk would be $27.00 still. But of course, that is the 2020 rates and these changes aren't gonna magically appear this year.
Just noticed some new signage on US 250 at the Turnpike entrances. Used to be a pretty old pair of signs that said "Ohio Turnpike".....now the signs have I-90 and I-80 shields with just the world "Turnpike" by itself underneath.
First I've seen the "Ohio" dropped from one of these, although this sign was a vertical rectangle (taller than wide), and adding Ohio would have required a second line of text.
VS988
While WB on the Turnpike yesterday I noticed that the exit for Baumhart Rd now has "To (OH 2 shield)" on it, at least for the final exit sign in the WB direction.
In the past the signage for this exit had a somewhat weird configuration where the "Baumhardt Rd" text was green surrounded by a white box to highlight it on the BGS. Those have since been patched over with white text on green background, however this was the first I've noticed this OH 2 shield signage, which was a new sign with no patch. I wasn't paying attention for the advance signs, so I don't know if they are all new too or if it's just the sign right before the gore. I did peek over at the EB signs and saw they were still the patched signs and did not have any mention of OH 2.
I was thru there a week and a half ago and don't think I saw the new sign. I've only ever been on the Oh Tpk west of I-77 twice ever (including that trip), and that exit stuck out simply due to the fact all the BGS didn't show any route number. I'm used to that on free interstates, but not long-haul toll roads (asides from Lordstown).
Also, unrelated to that, was I NOT seeing things, or does the Ohio Turnpike not have any permanent VMS? There were plenty of portable, construction-style ones, about toll payments/Covid, but I don't think I saw any permanent ones.
Quote from: Hot Rod Hootenanny on May 27, 2020, 10:16:44 PM
Quote from: Stephane Dumas on May 27, 2020, 08:29:26 PM
I wonder if that could lead to the addition of future interchanges in the long term?
West of Toledo? Doubtful. There is little demand for more exits than what already exists in the rural NW.
Doubtful anywhere really. The last new interchange opened in 2004. I was thinking US 127 was a maybe but as you just said no demand for more exists west of Toledo.
Quote from: dvferyance on September 21, 2020, 10:57:16 PM
Quote from: Hot Rod Hootenanny on May 27, 2020, 10:16:44 PM
Quote from: Stephane Dumas on May 27, 2020, 08:29:26 PM
I wonder if that could lead to the addition of future interchanges in the long term?
West of Toledo? Doubtful. There is little demand for more exits than what already exists in the rural NW.
Doubtful anywhere really. The last new interchange opened in 2004. I was thinking US 127 was a maybe but as you just said no demand for more exists west of Toledo.
Pretty much the Ohio Turnpike got all the exits they needed in the last several decades. The only 2 areas where I could see new exits nowadays are at SR-3 IN north Royalton and SR-11 near Youngstown, which have both been discussed on occasion over the years.
Toledo may or may not be still trying to get a direct connection to/from I-475/US-23, but I havent heard much about that in recent years.
475 is probably a non-starter given the amount of eminent domain that would be required. The ROW is constrained.
SR 3 would be easy if the Turnpike every went AET, but forget building a trumpet or other interchange were all traffic passes through a single toll plaza unless said interchange is a diamond hybrid.
SR 11...you could probably squeeze something in. Single toll plaza would be hard, AET would make it far easier.
Quote from: cl94 on September 22, 2020, 08:22:00 PM
475 is probably a non-starter given the amount of eminent domain that would be required. The ROW is constrained.
SR 3 would be easy if the Turnpike every went AET, but forget building a trumpet or other interchange were all traffic passes through a single toll plaza unless said interchange is a diamond hybrid.
SR 11...you could probably squeeze something in. Single toll plaza would be hard, AET would make it far easier.
11 makes sense from a "connect the major roads" perspective, but EB can just stay on 80 and WB can connect via 7 or I-680 fairly easily.
Quote from: dkblake on October 15, 2020, 05:40:35 PM
Quote from: cl94 on September 22, 2020, 08:22:00 PM
475 is probably a non-starter given the amount of eminent domain that would be required. The ROW is constrained.
SR 3 would be easy if the Turnpike every went AET, but forget building a trumpet or other interchange were all traffic passes through a single toll plaza unless said interchange is a diamond hybrid.
SR 11...you could probably squeeze something in. Single toll plaza would be hard, AET would make it far easier.
11 makes sense from a "connect the major roads" perspective, but EB can just stay on 80 and WB can connect via 7 or I-680 fairly easily.
I did the I-80 option several years ago when returning to Tidewater from Cleveland. I wanted to hit the Homer Laughlin factory seconds store for some cheap Fiesta stoneware. I probably would have taken it regardless; I tend to shunpike when I can. But it was quick and OH 11 is really interesting once south of the Youngstown area.
Quote from: dkblake on October 15, 2020, 05:40:35 PM
Quote from: cl94 on September 22, 2020, 08:22:00 PM
475 is probably a non-starter given the amount of eminent domain that would be required. The ROW is constrained.
SR 3 would be easy if the Turnpike every went AET, but forget building a trumpet or other interchange were all traffic passes through a single toll plaza unless said interchange is a diamond hybrid.
SR 11...you could probably squeeze something in. Single toll plaza would be hard, AET would make it far easier.
11 makes sense from a "connect the major roads" perspective, but EB can just stay on 80 and WB can connect via 7 or I-680 fairly easily.
There's no good routing between the Turnpike to/from the east and SR 11 to/from the south. Of the three plausible routings someone would take to the SR 7 or I-680 interchanges with the Turnpike (Western Reserve Road, SR 165, and SR 164-to-SR 14), none of them have interchanges with SR 11. Connecting via I-80 or through Youngstown goes way out of the way.
From NB OH 11, Google Maps recommends taking Exit 27/OH 46, turn right/southeast on 46 to Reckenberger Rd (shows on Google Maps as County Rd 40) - turn to head east on Reckenberger to OH 164. Take 164 northeast to either the OH 7 or OH 164/I-680 Entrance to the Turnpike. About 6 miles or so
That's not awfully far out of the way.
Direct access would be better, of course, between the Turnpike and 11
Looking at the Google Sat view of the area around the Turnpike and OH 11 crossing, looks to me like a Double Trumpet/Turnpike-style interchange would fit in better than anything at the actual point of intersection - the area mostly NW of the intersecting point looks like it would have room for the connecting road and toll booth between the 2 Trumpets
Whether OTC and ODOT have any interest in such, who knows
Quote from: ilpt4u on October 15, 2020, 10:49:55 PM
From NB OH 11, Google Maps recommends taking Exit 27/OH 46, turn right/southeast on 46 to Reckenberger Rd (shows on Google Maps as County Rd 40) - turn to head east on Reckenberger to OH 164. Take 164 northeast to either the OH 7 or OH 164/I-680 Entrance to the Turnpike. About 6 miles or so
That's not awfully far out of the way.
Direct access would be better, of course, between the Turnpike and 11
Looking at the Google Sat view of the area around the Turnpike and OH 11 crossing, looks to me like a Double Trumpet/Turnpike-style interchange would fit in better than anything at the actual point of intersection - the area mostly NW of the intersecting point looks like it would have room for the connecting road and toll booth between the 2 Trumpets
Whether OTC and ODOT have any interest in such, who knows
Since the plans are to eliminate tolling in the Youngstown area along the I-76 stretch (except for WB Tpk entering Ohio, that could make any I-76/SR-11 connection design much simpler as no toll plaza will be needed.
Quote from: thenetwork on October 16, 2020, 08:52:38 AM
Quote from: ilpt4u on October 15, 2020, 10:49:55 PM
From NB OH 11, Google Maps recommends taking Exit 27/OH 46, turn right/southeast on 46 to Reckenberger Rd (shows on Google Maps as County Rd 40) - turn to head east on Reckenberger to OH 164. Take 164 northeast to either the OH 7 or OH 164/I-680 Entrance to the Turnpike. About 6 miles or so
That's not awfully far out of the way.
Direct access would be better, of course, between the Turnpike and 11
Looking at the Google Sat view of the area around the Turnpike and OH 11 crossing, looks to me like a Double Trumpet/Turnpike-style interchange would fit in better than anything at the actual point of intersection - the area mostly NW of the intersecting point looks like it would have room for the connecting road and toll booth between the 2 Trumpets
Whether OTC and ODOT have any interest in such, who knows
Since the plans are to eliminate tolling in the Youngstown area along the I-76 stretch (except for WB Tpk entering Ohio, that could make any I-76/SR-11 connection design much simpler as no toll plaza will be needed.
Even with no toll plaza, it still might make sense to build a Double Trumpet Interchange for the movements. The South side of the Turnpike near the OH 11 crossing doesn't have a lot of vacant land for ramp construction. The NE quadrant, right near both roadways, also has a couple houses. The NW quadrant has the most available land. I guess it could be a Double Y with a connector road using the NW quadrant and not a Double Trumpet, but not sure all the Flyovers would be necessary at this spot for a Double Y
This isn't news, rather it is a history question. Ohio's exits state-wide were sequential originally, but all routes, save the Ohio Turnpike, converted to mileage-based in the 1970s. The Ohio Turnpike did not convert to mileage-based until 1998. Does anyone know why Ohio's DOT dragged their feet on converting the Turnpike's exits to mileage-based? After all, when Pennsylvania converted its exits to mileage-based in 2001, the Pennsylvania Turnpike and it's branches converted as well.
Quote from: The Ghostbuster on October 16, 2020, 02:56:20 PM
Does anyone know why Ohio's DOT dragged their feet on converting the Turnpike's exits to mileage-based? After all, when Pennsylvania converted its exits to mileage-based in 2001, the Pennsylvania Turnpike and it's branches converted as well.
Ohio's turnpike commission operates independently of ODOT, although they have collaborated with other issues such as truck shunpiking.
Quote from: The Ghostbuster on October 16, 2020, 02:56:20 PM
This isn't news, rather it is a history question. Ohio's exits state-wide were sequential originally, but all routes, save the Ohio Turnpike, converted to mileage-based in the 1970s. The Ohio Turnpike did not convert to mileage-based until 1998. Does anyone know why Ohio's DOT dragged their feet on converting the Turnpike's exits to mileage-based? After all, when Pennsylvania converted its exits to mileage-based in 2001, the Pennsylvania Turnpike and it's branches converted as well.
My guess is that originally, with so few exits up until the late 80s, they didn't want to screw up familiarity of the sequential exits.
When they started building more interchanges in the 90s, there were getting to be too many EXIT #-A's and I think the confusion factor was starting to settle in.
Plus the newer "#-A" exits were full interchanges and not half-interchanges like I-90 East, I-480 East and I-680 North.
The Ohio turnpike has announced that their modernised Toll Collection System will come into use in early 2023.
https://www.vindy.com/news/local-news/2021/11/ohio-turnpike-paves-way-for-200m-overhaul/ (https://www.vindy.com/news/local-news/2021/11/ohio-turnpike-paves-way-for-200m-overhaul/)
Story on the new toll plaza being built in Trumbull County.
Quote from: ysuindy on November 01, 2021, 10:08:26 PM
https://www.vindy.com/news/local-news/2021/11/ohio-turnpike-paves-way-for-200m-overhaul/ (https://www.vindy.com/news/local-news/2021/11/ohio-turnpike-paves-way-for-200m-overhaul/)
Story on the new toll plaza being built in Trumbull County.
When the OTC says that some exits along the FREE Youngstown section may be redesigned, one has to wonder if Exit 218, the 76/80 split will be totally changed again.
For those who don't remember,, when the Turnpike first started, the Original Exit 15 was a double trumpet at then SR-18 (Now County Road 18/Mahoning Ave).
When the freeway connecting Akron to Youngstown was completed (The current free.sections of I-76 and I-80), the Turnpike relocated Exit 15 to it's current Exit 218 location and completely abandoned the original Exit 15 ramps.
Enter the 1990s and the ramps from Free 76/80 to Toll 76/80 were redesigned and also added a direct connection between the Turnpike and Mahoning Avenue via the original Exit 15 toll plaza area and the original trumpet t
ramps to CR-18.
With that area being a totally free interchange, perhaps they may redo Exit 218 to revert to only serving 76/80 traffic and create a separate full interchange of CR-18/Mahoning Avenue and naming it Exit 219???
I guess with no need for a toll plaza, the options are really limited just by just what they'd want to spend.
Maybe the only 2 real major modifications/improvements might be direct ramps that would be for the E & W I-76 movements (with a WB flyover or something), given that even in the current configuration the I-80 movements are the easiest that a double-trumpet allows (WB 80 on the more "slip" ramps thru the area, and EB 80 getting the "easier" outer (not the full loop) trumpet movements for both trumpets, and they wouldn't have to rebuild the CR-18 ramps..... but who knows.
Also currently in the mix in that area is the OTC-Only access that appears to accommodate a salt dome (or some kind of OTC facility).
Quote from: thenetwork on October 16, 2020, 07:44:17 PM
Quote from: The Ghostbuster on October 16, 2020, 02:56:20 PM
This isn't news, rather it is a history question. Ohio's exits state-wide were sequential originally, but all routes, save the Ohio Turnpike, converted to mileage-based in the 1970s. The Ohio Turnpike did not convert to mileage-based until 1998. Does anyone know why Ohio's DOT dragged their feet on converting the Turnpike's exits to mileage-based? After all, when Pennsylvania converted its exits to mileage-based in 2001, the Pennsylvania Turnpike and it's branches converted as well.
My guess is that originally, with so few exits up until the late 80s, they didn't want to screw up familiarity of the sequential exits.
When they started building more interchanges in the 90s, there were getting to be too many EXIT #-A's and I think the confusion factor was starting to settle in.
Plus the newer "#-A" exits were full interchanges and not half-interchanges like I-90 East, I-480 East and I-680 North.
Plus plus, even the suffixes (suffices?) were getting out of order. The new OH-2 interchange near the Toledo Express Airport was between exits 3 and 4, and so was given the exit number 3A. But then what to do when the new OH-109 interchange (between exits 3 and 3A) was built five years later? It was given exit number 3B. I'm guessing that's about the time they really started thinking this sequential numbering thing was no longer useful.
Another story on the new toll plaza being built in Trumbull County, this time from a Youngstown TV station
https://www.wfmj.com/story/45939941/turnpike-tollgate-construction-in-trumbull-county-part-of-plan-to-shorten-travel-times?fbclid=IwAR0q_eFTMS007AmuXdGysXbqtklGLcFPlb7F3S4BaJY3d0R2LsDtty_3Tx4#.Yhd7CU4OwUs.facebook
Reading that article and looking at the Google Street View (from October 2021) it appears this new toll plaza will be about a quarter to half mile west of where the May 31, 1985 F5 tornado crossed the turnpike. There was an A Frame house on a small lake on the north side of the turnpike that was damaged by the tornado. There was insulation in the trees around there for many years.
If exit 218 (I-76/I-80 interchange) gets its toll booth removed, any chances the interchange will be rebuilt with EB 80 and WB 76 flyovers (and removing the double loop for EB 76) to accommodate through movements on both interstates?
Quote from: SkyPesos on February 24, 2022, 04:37:47 PM
If exit 218 (I-76/I-80 interchange) gets its toll booth removed, any chances the interchange will be rebuilt with EB 80 and WB 76 flyovers (and removing the double loop for EB 76) to accommodate through movements on both interstates?
Very much doubt it will happen anytime soon, as in the next 10 years, but it may make a long-range planning document sometime. The EB 80 movement, providing the existing toll booths are removed, is pretty much a flyover already; EB 76 to eliminate the double loop, looks like it would be easy and cheap enough; but while a WB 76 flyover would be optimal, they already spent a ton of money on that interchange when the connection was reconstructed back to Mahoning Ave., CR 18 some 25 years ago.
It appears the new mainline barrier west of Toledo is much further along, according to the Oct21 GSV that's up.
I was just perusing the Ohio Tpk website. If I stop at a plaza it's usually Blue Heron WB because I tend to shunpike at least to Port Clinton on SR 2.
What happened to all the food options at these plazas (Mile 77) that it only shows Sunoco and Vending? I remember there at least being a Hardees.
All the other plazas are listed with restaurants. Maybe just a bad location?
Is there data on service plaza usage?
Quote from: sbeaver44 on August 18, 2022, 09:18:53 PM
I was just perusing the Ohio Tpk website. If I stop at a plaza it's usually Blue Heron WB because I tend to shunpike at least to Port Clinton on SR 2.
What happened to all the food options at these plazas (Mile 77) that it only shows Sunoco and Vending? I remember there at least being a Hardees.
All the other plazas are listed with restaurants. Maybe just a bad location?
Is there data on service plaza usage?
Possibly undergoing a remodel. Some of the first new-generation plazas are approaching 25 years old and are probably due for renovations???
That was one of the busier plazas. We would always stop there before we turned off at Toledo, and was usually our first pit stop out of Detroit.
I seriously doubt it was due to lack of business.
Did Ohio ever propose building any additional toll roads besides the Ohio Turnpike? I find it interesting that Kansas, Indiana, and Ohio have only one toll road, while other states built more toll roads early on.
Quote from: The Ghostbuster on August 19, 2022, 02:28:00 PM
Did Ohio ever propose building any additional toll roads besides the Ohio Turnpike? I find it interesting that Kansas, Indiana, and Ohio have only one toll road, while other states built more toll roads early on.
Yes. The I-71/I-271/I-90 corridor from Cincinnati to Conneaut was intended to be a second toll road before the Interstate system was created.
Quote from: sbeaver44 on August 18, 2022, 09:18:53 PM
I was just perusing the Ohio Tpk website. If I stop at a plaza it's usually Blue Heron WB because I tend to shunpike at least to Port Clinton on SR 2.
What happened to all the food options at these plazas (Mile 77) that it only shows Sunoco and Vending? I remember there at least being a Hardees.
All the other plazas are listed with restaurants. Maybe just a bad location?
Is there data on service plaza usage?
Part of a 07/24/2022 article in the Toledo Blade:
https://www.toledoblade.com/local/transportation/2022/07/24/toledo-area-construction-and-road-closures-week-of-july-24/stories/20220723131 (may be behind a paywall)
Quote
Renovations are underway at several of the food courts east of Toledo, and the Turnpike says more such work is pending.
At the Erie Islands and Commodore Perry plazas near Fremont and Sandusky, new Burger King restaurants are being developed in the brand anchor positions, and once they open, the existing Burger King counters will close and be converted to Panda Express locations. The Sbarro counters will be updated and the former Starbucks Coffee and Auntie Anne's concessions will be remodeled into a combination Dunkin' and Baskin-Robbins on each side.
Work will soon begin at the Great Lakes and Towpath plazas near Elyria to build new Popeye's Louisiana Kitchen restaurants that the Turnpike said will be its plazas' largest new foodservice concessions. The Popeye's stores will include self-order kiosks.
And at the Blue Heron and Wyandot plazas between I-280 and Elmore, the Hardee's restaurant and the retail store will soon be refurbished, while Starbucks and Freshens Food Kitchens will be added later to both food courts.
Food availability will be limited at times during some of the plaza construction, so travelers should be alert for signs showing updates on individual plazas' status.
Oh wow, I didn't realize it had been 25 years already and they're up for re-renovation.
Side note: are there any good sources of pictures of the inside or outside of the old plazas?
I always thought that they were the best of those on any toll road.
https://fox8.com/news/ohio-turnpike-toll-booth-changes-heres-what-you-need-to-know/
Say bye-bye to the gates on the Ohio Turnpike as they start making changes to the toll system, starting with the toll plazas at TP 52, TP 71, TP 151, and TP 173.
GSV show a view of the new western toll booth taken last July. https://goo.gl/maps/ZnS6u1irzLrkHSVt8
Quote from: Stephane Dumas on September 02, 2022, 01:58:35 PM
GSV show a view of the new western toll booth taken last July. https://goo.gl/maps/ZnS6u1irzLrkHSVt8
Move a little farther east and we have a Caption Contest: https://goo.gl/maps/boDTPQubDScxsCTE7
Quote from: sbeaver44 on August 18, 2022, 09:18:53 PM
I was just perusing the Ohio Tpk website. If I stop at a plaza it's usually Blue Heron WB because I tend to shunpike at least to Port Clinton on SR 2.
What happened to all the food options at these plazas (Mile 77) that it only shows Sunoco and Vending? I remember there at least being a Hardees.
All the other plazas are listed with restaurants. Maybe just a bad location?
Is there data on service plaza usage?
It's a remodel of the food court area. I stopped at the eastbound one last month, and one could see that they were doing remodeling work in there.
Quote from: The Ghostbuster on August 19, 2022, 02:28:00 PM
Did Ohio ever propose building any additional toll roads besides the Ohio Turnpike?
Not sure if this wasn't just some discussion on this or another board, but I remember reading something about having I-73 be built as a toll road between Toledo and Columbus.
For what it's worth, the closest thing to a toll bridge in the state is the 1.5 mile Cedar Point Causeway; the price is only $0.50 last I heard. There are also at least two car ferries to Lake Erie islands, and two in the state that cross the Ohio River. There was discussion to make the Brent Spence Bridge replacement a toll bridge, but both states seem to agree that is to be toll-free.
Quote from: lepidopteran on September 06, 2022, 12:35:32 AM
Quote from: The Ghostbuster on August 19, 2022, 02:28:00 PM
Did Ohio ever propose building any additional toll roads besides the Ohio Turnpike?
Not sure if this wasn't just some discussion on this or another board, but I remember reading something about having I-73 be built as a toll road between Toledo and Columbus.
For what it's worth, the closest thing to a toll bridge in the state is the 1.5 mile Cedar Point Causeway; the price is only $0.50 last I heard. There are also at least two car ferries to Lake Erie islands, and two in the state that cross the Ohio River. There was discussion to make the Brent Spence Bridge replacement a toll bridge, but both states seem to agree that is to be toll-free.
As has been discussed in other boards, where I-71, I-271, and I-90 currently are was going to be a toll road (a Cincinnati-Conneaut toll highway). It would have tied into a short toll highway in Pennsylvania (using current I-90), which, in turn, would have connected to the New York Thruway. This was proposed before 1956. However, once President Eisenhower signed the Interstate Highway bill, all these proposed toll highways became the proposed routes for toll-free Interstate highways.
Does anyone know why the OH 49 interchange just east of the Indiana/Ohio border isn't numbered Exit 2? It seems uncharacteristic for an exit on a toll road with exit numbers to omit numbering an interchange.
It was probably because it is outside of the tolling system.
I was perusing the Google News archives of the Youngstown Vindicator today and took some time to review the November 30 - December 2, 1954 editions that dealt with the opening of the eastern section of the Turnpike in Mahoning County - from the Pennsylvania state line to Ohio Route 18 / Mahoning Avenue.
Much was made in the story and in pictures of a cornerstone box that was "permanently installed" at the Eastgate toll booth.
With the impending removal of the Eastgate toll plaza in Mahoning County, I wonder what has happened to this box? Was it previously removed / destroyed in an earlier expansion of Eastgate?
From the December 1, 1954 Vindicator:
"A copy of The Vindicator's Tuesday edition was placed in a cornerstone box along with numerous historic documents, turnpike papers, pictures of President Eisenhower and Gov. Lausche, blocks of cement from the first concerted pavement in Ohio and the first concreate laid on the turnpike, maps, pamphlets, newspapers and even a box of buckeyes.
At the state line Mrs. Lausche unveiled a memorial plaque, which was taken later to the Eastgate terminal of the Ohio pike for permanent installation at Eastgate
Mrs. Robert S. Beightler, wife of the executive director of the Ohio Turnpike Commission, placed the box in the cornerstone and the plaque was laid on top of it."
Quote from: amroad17 on September 06, 2022, 12:56:22 AM
Quote from: lepidopteran on September 06, 2022, 12:35:32 AM
Quote from: The Ghostbuster on August 19, 2022, 02:28:00 PM
Did Ohio ever propose building any additional toll roads besides the Ohio Turnpike?
Not sure if this wasn't just some discussion on this or another board, but I remember reading something about having I-73 be built as a toll road between Toledo and Columbus.
For what it's worth, the closest thing to a toll bridge in the state is the 1.5 mile Cedar Point Causeway; the price is only $0.50 last I heard. There are also at least two car ferries to Lake Erie islands, and two in the state that cross the Ohio River. There was discussion to make the Brent Spence Bridge replacement a toll bridge, but both states seem to agree that is to be toll-free.
As has been discussed in other boards, where I-71, I-271, and I-90 currently are was going to be a toll road (a Cincinnati-Conneaut toll highway). It would have tied into a short toll highway in Pennsylvania (using current I-90), which, in turn, would have connected to the New York Thruway. This was proposed before 1956. However, once President Eisenhower signed the Interstate Highway bill, all these proposed toll highways became the proposed routes for toll-free Interstate highways.
Would it have used the same ticket system as the E-W Turnpike, or would they have been separate?
Quote from: theroadwayone on October 05, 2022, 02:15:05 AM
Quote from: amroad17 on September 06, 2022, 12:56:22 AM
Quote from: lepidopteran on September 06, 2022, 12:35:32 AM
Quote from: The Ghostbuster on August 19, 2022, 02:28:00 PM
Did Ohio ever propose building any additional toll roads besides the Ohio Turnpike?
Not sure if this wasn't just some discussion on this or another board, but I remember reading something about having I-73 be built as a toll road between Toledo and Columbus.
For what it's worth, the closest thing to a toll bridge in the state is the 1.5 mile Cedar Point Causeway; the price is only $0.50 last I heard. There are also at least two car ferries to Lake Erie islands, and two in the state that cross the Ohio River. There was discussion to make the Brent Spence Bridge replacement a toll bridge, but both states seem to agree that is to be toll-free.
As has been discussed in other boards, where I-71, I-271, and I-90 currently are was going to be a toll road (a Cincinnati-Conneaut toll highway). It would have tied into a short toll highway in Pennsylvania (using current I-90), which, in turn, would have connected to the New York Thruway. This was proposed before 1956. However, once President Eisenhower signed the Interstate Highway bill, all these proposed toll highways became the proposed routes for toll-free Interstate highways.
Would it have used the same ticket system as the E-W Turnpike, or would they have been separate?
Hard to say, but if I had to bet, the north-south "turnpike" probably would have had a tolling system similar to Jersey's Garden State Parkway.
I say that because the section of I-71 from Medina to Columbus was being built around the time the Ohio Turnpike opened up east to west, and the majority of the exit ramps were traditional freeway-styled ramps. The only Double Trumpet interchange was at US-224 in Lodi, and that was a very short connecting ramp with no groundwork for Toll Plazas.
Quote from: theroadwayone on October 05, 2022, 02:15:05 AM
Quote from: amroad17 on September 06, 2022, 12:56:22 AM
Quote from: lepidopteran on September 06, 2022, 12:35:32 AM
Quote from: The Ghostbuster on August 19, 2022, 02:28:00 PM
Did Ohio ever propose building any additional toll roads besides the Ohio Turnpike?
Not sure if this wasn't just some discussion on this or another board, but I remember reading something about having I-73 be built as a toll road between Toledo and Columbus.
For what it's worth, the closest thing to a toll bridge in the state is the 1.5 mile Cedar Point Causeway; the price is only $0.50 last I heard. There are also at least two car ferries to Lake Erie islands, and two in the state that cross the Ohio River. There was discussion to make the Brent Spence Bridge replacement a toll bridge, but both states seem to agree that is to be toll-free.
As has been discussed in other boards, where I-71, I-271, and I-90 currently are was going to be a toll road (a Cincinnati-Conneaut toll highway). It would have tied into a short toll highway in Pennsylvania (using current I-90), which, in turn, would have connected to the New York Thruway. This was proposed before 1956. However, once President Eisenhower signed the Interstate Highway bill, all these proposed toll highways became the proposed routes for toll-free Interstate highways.
Would it have used the same ticket system as the E-W Turnpike, or would they have been separate?
Chances it might have used the same ticket system. However depending on how Metros Cleveland, Cincinnati and Columbus would have growth, some gaps would have been converted to coin drop in suburban areas.
Quote from: thenetwork on October 05, 2022, 06:51:46 PM
Quote from: theroadwayone on October 05, 2022, 02:15:05 AM
Quote from: amroad17 on September 06, 2022, 12:56:22 AM
Quote from: lepidopteran on September 06, 2022, 12:35:32 AM
Quote from: The Ghostbuster on August 19, 2022, 02:28:00 PM
Did Ohio ever propose building any additional toll roads besides the Ohio Turnpike?
Not sure if this wasn't just some discussion on this or another board, but I remember reading something about having I-73 be built as a toll road between Toledo and Columbus.
For what it's worth, the closest thing to a toll bridge in the state is the 1.5 mile Cedar Point Causeway; the price is only $0.50 last I heard. There are also at least two car ferries to Lake Erie islands, and two in the state that cross the Ohio River. There was discussion to make the Brent Spence Bridge replacement a toll bridge, but both states seem to agree that is to be toll-free.
As has been discussed in other boards, where I-71, I-271, and I-90 currently are was going to be a toll road (a Cincinnati-Conneaut toll highway). It would have tied into a short toll highway in Pennsylvania (using current I-90), which, in turn, would have connected to the New York Thruway. This was proposed before 1956. However, once President Eisenhower signed the Interstate Highway bill, all these proposed toll highways became the proposed routes for toll-free Interstate highways.
Would it have used the same ticket system as the E-W Turnpike, or would they have been separate?
Hard to say, but if I had to bet, the north-south "turnpike" probably would have had a tolling system similar to Jersey's Garden State Parkway.
I say that because the section of I-71 from Medina to Columbus was being built around the time the Ohio Turnpike opened up east to west, and the majority of the exit ramps were traditional freeway-styled ramps. The only Double Trumpet interchange was at US-224 in Lodi, and that was a very short connecting ramp with no groundwork for Toll Plazas.
Was this section of I-71 under construction pre interstate?
Somebody should ask that Sandor guy where he gets his maps?
Maybe we can get him to hold a roadmeet as well. :rolleyes:
1954 proposed Ohio Turnpike 2 map
(https://live.staticflickr.com/3032/4561092896_5ef1c67488.jpg)
Also, it wasn't till 1958 that Ohio's dept. of highways maps showed any proposed routing (sans numbers) for interstates.
So, no. I-71 wasn't being worked on, pre-interstates (unless you want to count the Cleveland and/or Columbus innerbelts)
https://www.dot.state.oh.us/maps/archivedmaps/1958.pdf
Makes me wonder how things would've shaken out interstate-wise in Ohio if those other two turnpikes were already substantially complete before the Interstate Highways Act. Because that would've really changed how one routes I-70 through west of Columbus and makes me wonder about I-75 between Dayton and Findlay.
We'd have the Columbus-Toledo interstate so many of us like to put on our fictional maps. ;)
If there's one supposed positive of the Turnpike's new abridged ticket system, it will eliminate perhaps one of the most useless tickets issued, namely the one issued for I-680 that shows a 50-cent toll.
Drove by the new mainline toll plaza under construction at MM 211 twice over Thanksgiving. It's coming along nicely, looks most of the way done.
I wonder what, if any effect the new Turnpike tolling system will have on shunpiking. I remember when I was in Toledo what a big deal truck traffic was on OH-2 paralleling the Turnpike, presumably to avoid tolls. Of course, this was hyped often by The Blade.
Quote from: Buck87 on November 27, 2022, 11:54:46 AM
Drove by the new mainline toll plaza under construction at MM 211 twice over Thanksgiving. It's coming along nicely, looks most of the way done.
Same with the toll plaza at MM 49, which I drove by at the beginning of this month. Seen in the background of this photo.
It appears the plaza splits for the non- E-ZPass lanes will be signed as exits, with up/right arrows and exit numbers. That seems weird.
(https://i.imgur.com/5EcCPs8.jpg)
Also, it appears that the interchange at OH-49 (mile 2) will still be the bastard child of the system, as it does not show at all on the new "Modernized Ohio Turnpike Toll Collection System" strip map. I wonder if it will at least finally be blessed with an exit number.
https://www.ohioturnpike.org/images/default-source/tcs/tcs-turnpike-strip-map-2-9-21.jpg?sfvrsn=feeff7c4_6
Do they have an estimated opening date for the new toll plazas and tolling scheme?
Quote from: wanderer2575 on November 27, 2022, 05:40:56 PM
Quote from: Buck87 on November 27, 2022, 11:54:46 AM
Drove by the new mainline toll plaza under construction at MM 211 twice over Thanksgiving. It's coming along nicely, looks most of the way done.
Same with the toll plaza at MM 49, which I drove by at the beginning of this month. Seen in the background of this photo.
It appears the plaza splits for the non- E-ZPass lanes will be signed as exits, with up/right arrows and exit numbers. That seems weird.
(https://i.imgur.com/5EcCPs8.jpg)
Bet the exit tabs for the toll barrier won't last too long.
It's going to likely cause confusion with unfamiliar drivers thinking the Pay Toll "exit" will take them completely off the Turnpike, and thus they will stay in the left E-Z Pass lanes and get dinged for "evading the toll" by paying the maximum.
What the OTC SHOULD do is change the left overhead EZ Pass pull-though sign from green to purple saying EZ-PASS ONLY, while the right overhead sign should say,
ALL OTHER TRAFFIC -- REDEEM TICKET / PAY TOLL. Adding flashing yellow lights to the sign would be highly recommended as well.
Quote from: wanderer2575 on November 27, 2022, 05:59:21 PM
Also, it appears that the interchange at OH-49 (mile 2) will still be the bastard child of the system, as it does not show at all on the new "Modernized Ohio Turnpike Toll Collection System" strip map. I wonder if it will at least finally be blessed with an exit number.
https://www.ohioturnpike.org/images/default-source/tcs/tcs-turnpike-strip-map-2-9-21.jpg?sfvrsn=feeff7c4_6
I don't understand why when they installed new signs in that area a few years ago, they didn't number the exit and instead changed the Westgate name on signage (which, interestingly, is shown on the Modernized System diagram) to "Toll Plaza 2" which is completely screwy.
Quote from: thenetwork on October 05, 2022, 06:51:46 PM
Quote from: theroadwayone on October 05, 2022, 02:15:05 AM
Quote from: amroad17 on September 06, 2022, 12:56:22 AM
Quote from: lepidopteran on September 06, 2022, 12:35:32 AM
Quote from: The Ghostbuster on August 19, 2022, 02:28:00 PM
Did Ohio ever propose building any additional toll roads besides the Ohio Turnpike?
Not sure if this wasn't just some discussion on this or another board, but I remember reading something about having I-73 be built as a toll road between Toledo and Columbus.
For what it's worth, the closest thing to a toll bridge in the state is the 1.5 mile Cedar Point Causeway; the price is only $0.50 last I heard. There are also at least two car ferries to Lake Erie islands, and two in the state that cross the Ohio River. There was discussion to make the Brent Spence Bridge replacement a toll bridge, but both states seem to agree that is to be toll-free.
As has been discussed in other boards, where I-71, I-271, and I-90 currently are was going to be a toll road (a Cincinnati-Conneaut toll highway). It would have tied into a short toll highway in Pennsylvania (using current I-90), which, in turn, would have connected to the New York Thruway. This was proposed before 1956. However, once President Eisenhower signed the Interstate Highway bill, all these proposed toll highways became the proposed routes for toll-free Interstate highways.
Would it have used the same ticket system as the E-W Turnpike, or would they have been separate?
Hard to say, but if I had to bet, the north-south "turnpike" probably would have had a tolling system similar to Jersey's Garden State Parkway.
I say that because the section of I-71 from Medina to Columbus was being built around the time the Ohio Turnpike opened up east to west, and the majority of the exit ramps were traditional freeway-styled ramps. The only Double Trumpet interchange was at US-224 in Lodi, and that was a very short connecting ramp with no groundwork for Toll Plazas.
And might they have gone with GSP-esque one-way plazas later on?
Apparently there was a big pileup on the OH Turnpike on Friday the 23rd, near Sandusky, due to the winds and white-out conditions.
Ohio State Highway Patrol reports that 4 lives were lost
Turnpike is still closed between US 250 and OH 53 on Saturday morning per the reports
https://sanduskyregister.com/news/435311/4-dead-in-turnpike-incident/
https://sanduskyregister.com/news/435335/fridays-level-3-downgraded-to-level-2/
https://sanduskyregister.com/news/435327/turnpike-crash-photos-show-carnage/
(https://3cfbfb0553974aafbc31-74c41e68ace2933c08ef8ba40eaa02f3.ssl.cf1.rackcdn.com/0/0/0/0/431/854/431854_1)
Quote from: ilpt4u on December 24, 2022, 01:11:55 AM
Apparently there was a big pileup on the OH Turnpike on Friday the 23rd, near Sandusky, due to the winds and white-out conditions.
Ohio State Highway Patrol reports that 4 lives were lost
Turnpike is still closed between US 250 and OH 53 on Saturday morning per the reports
https://sanduskyregister.com/news/435311/4-dead-in-turnpike-incident/
https://sanduskyregister.com/news/435335/fridays-level-3-downgraded-to-level-2/
https://sanduskyregister.com/news/435327/turnpike-crash-photos-show-carnage/
(https://3cfbfb0553974aafbc31-74c41e68ace2933c08ef8ba40eaa02f3.ssl.cf1.rackcdn.com/0/0/0/0/431/854/431854_1)
Damn. Especially before Christmas. Our hearts are with their families during this time.
Quote from: wanderer2575 on November 27, 2022, 05:40:56 PM
Quote from: Buck87 on November 27, 2022, 11:54:46 AM
Drove by the new mainline toll plaza under construction at MM 211 twice over Thanksgiving. It's coming along nicely, looks most of the way done.
Same with the toll plaza at MM 49, which I drove by at the beginning of this month. Seen in the background of this photo.
It appears the plaza splits for the non- E-ZPass lanes will be signed as exits, with up/right arrows and exit numbers. That seems weird.
(https://i.imgur.com/5EcCPs8.jpg)
I suspect the word "GATE" may be there instead of "EXIT".
Picture of the new toll plaza at mile 211. https://twitter.com/danabalash21/status/1624879292671827970?s=46&t=ZOcrfXJLQKDfuqCpdaf1WA
The new tolling system is expected to launch in November
https://www.cleveland.com/news/2023/10/ohio-turnpikes-new-tolling-system-expected-to-launch-in-november.html?outputType=amp
Pixel 7 Pro
I can't believe they're doing that when almost everywhere else is going completely cashless.
Quote from: Plutonic Panda on October 20, 2023, 12:26:04 AM
I can't believe they're doing that when almost everywhere else is going completely cashless.
They'll just follow the Thruway's path over the past 20 years and eventually have to replace these plazas with full AET.
Just history repeating a lot more slowly.
Quote from: Buck87 on October 19, 2023, 09:28:04 PM
The new tolling system is expected to launch in November
https://www.cleveland.com/news/2023/10/ohio-turnpikes-new-tolling-system-expected-to-launch-in-november.html?outputType=amp
Pixel 7 Pro
My spidey sense says that the November launch will occur about a week before Thanksgiving Week, if not the week of.
Considering that is one of the biggest travel weekends, if the launch happens that close to the holiday, they better hope the system works 110% correctly, or this could be one of the biggest clusterfreaks in the history of the Ohio Turnpike.
Still remember when one of their original alternative payment options was having a self-serve kiosk where you manually entered the ticket in slot A, put your payments in slots B-C, and get your receipt in slot D. And this was to be quicker than as tollbooth worker???
What is the logic of making the western portion free (other than the state line extortion toll)? I can understand around Youngstown, but not the rural area west of Toledo.
Quote from: vdeane on October 20, 2023, 08:49:25 PM
What is the logic of making the western portion free (other than the state line extortion toll)? I can understand around Youngstown, but not the rural area west of Toledo.
The Turnpike is following the Massachusetts Turnpike and the Pennsylvania Turnpike which IIRC made their western portions free (although the Mass Pike added them back).
Quote from: Ted$8roadFan on October 21, 2023, 09:36:00 AM
Quote from: vdeane on October 20, 2023, 08:49:25 PM
What is the logic of making the western portion free (other than the state line extortion toll)? I can understand around Youngstown, but not the rural area west of Toledo.
The Turnpike is following the Massachusetts Turnpike and the Pennsylvania Turnpike which IIRC made their western portions free (although the Mass Pike added them back).
I presume the PA Turnpike did that because it's the Pittsburgh metro, which seems similar to the Youngstown situation. The MassPike was briefly free west of exit 6 because the people in the western part of the state complained about tolls paying for the Big Dig. Does a similar type of complaint exist in western Ohio?
Quote from: vdeane on October 21, 2023, 08:59:41 PM
Quote from: Ted$8roadFan on October 21, 2023, 09:36:00 AM
Quote from: vdeane on October 20, 2023, 08:49:25 PM
What is the logic of making the western portion free (other than the state line extortion toll)? I can understand around Youngstown, but not the rural area west of Toledo.
The Turnpike is following the Massachusetts Turnpike and the Pennsylvania Turnpike which IIRC made their western portions free (although the Mass Pike added them back).
I presume the PA Turnpike did that because it's the Pittsburgh metro, which seems similar to the Youngstown situation. The MassPike was briefly free west of exit 6 because the people in the western part of the state complained about tolls paying for the Big Dig. Does a similar type of complaint exist in western Ohio?
The free part of the PA Turnpike is not Pittsburgh metro. Pittsburgh metro area is Cranberry exit (I-79/US 19) to Irwin (US 30). PTC made this section free because there was relatively little traffic traveling between the interchanges in the free section, meaning lost revenue was minimal, and there was no practical way to keep a toll plaza in the middle of the Cranberry interchange as they reconfigured it to also serve I-79.
Ohio Turnpike is doing its toll-free zones for a similar reason: A relatively low amount of traffic between the interchanges in the free zones mean revenue loss will be minimal and not having to operate these toll plazas will save money.
Quote from: Bitmapped on October 22, 2023, 03:14:29 PM
Quote from: vdeane on October 21, 2023, 08:59:41 PM
Quote from: Ted$8roadFan on October 21, 2023, 09:36:00 AM
Quote from: vdeane on October 20, 2023, 08:49:25 PM
What is the logic of making the western portion free (other than the state line extortion toll)? I can understand around Youngstown, but not the rural area west of Toledo.
The Turnpike is following the Massachusetts Turnpike and the Pennsylvania Turnpike which IIRC made their western portions free (although the Mass Pike added them back).
I presume the PA Turnpike did that because it's the Pittsburgh metro, which seems similar to the Youngstown situation. The MassPike was briefly free west of exit 6 because the people in the western part of the state complained about tolls paying for the Big Dig. Does a similar type of complaint exist in western Ohio?
The free part of the PA Turnpike is not Pittsburgh metro. Pittsburgh metro area is Cranberry exit (I-79/US 19) to Irwin (US 30). PTC made this section free because there was relatively little traffic traveling between the interchanges in the free section, meaning lost revenue was minimal, and there was no practical way to keep a toll plaza in the middle of the Cranberry interchange as they reconfigured it to also serve I-79.
Not to mention that the PA Turnpike can still get at your wallet in the western Free Zone if you exit the Turnpike at I-376 and go north or south to either New Castle or the airport, accordingly.
Sounds like the Turnpike will flip the switch to the new tolling system (and the new "free" sections on each end) next week, right after.the Thanksgivine Weekend rush:
https://fox8.com/news/new-turnpike-tolling-system-to-launch-after-busy-thanksgiving-travel-period/
Quote from: thenetwork on November 20, 2023, 11:15:17 PM
Sounds like the Turnpike will flip the switch to the new tolling system (and the new "free" sections on each end) next week, right after.the Thanksgivine Weekend rush:
https://fox8.com/news/new-turnpike-tolling-system-to-launch-after-busy-thanksgiving-travel-period/
After you posted (the next day), WJW revised it:
Quote*Editor's note: This story has been corrected to say the full launch will happen after Christmas.
Probably wise to wait until the rest of the holiday travel is over too. If the system bombs somehow, it would be brutal when busy with holiday travelers.
(If the system did implode somehow, would they have to give free travel to those affected?)
Quote from: PurdueBill on November 25, 2023, 08:54:44 PM
Quote from: thenetwork on November 20, 2023, 11:15:17 PM
Sounds like the Turnpike will flip the switch to the new tolling system (and the new "free" sections on each end) next week, right after.the Thanksgivine Weekend rush:
https://fox8.com/news/new-turnpike-tolling-system-to-launch-after-busy-thanksgiving-travel-period/
After you posted (the next day), WJW revised it:
Quote*Editor's note: This story has been corrected to say the full launch will happen after Christmas.
Probably wise to wait until the rest of the holiday travel is over too. If the system bombs somehow, it would be brutal when busy with holiday travelers.
(If the system did implode somehow, would they have to give free travel to those affected?)
[/quote
It would probably make the most sense now to flip all the switches at 12:01AM on New Years Day, since I believe there will be an overall toll increase at that time anyways.
Just looked ad there's still no news on the new toll system starting up
Would have thought they'd get it done by now
Quote from: Buck87 on January 18, 2024, 12:15:33 PM
Just looked ad there's still no news on the new toll system starting up
Would have thought they'd get it done by now
Great minds think alike - I was already writing this post and saw yours pop up when I hit preview. Looks like they did do the annual increase for the old system on 1/1, but nothing new seems to have come out about activating the new system. I passed thru the Eastgate & Newton Falls plazas back in mid-December and both looked ready to go whenever - at Eastgate, the eventual eastbound lanes bypassing the plaza were fully paved & striped. I wonder whether things have been popping up during testing that require additional work prior to activation, or if some of the recent winter weather has even delayed activation.
The new feedback displays already activated at some of the side plazas (I passed thru Streetsboro both ways heading to & from Cleveland) are really nice and easy to read - displayed "E-ZPASS ACCEPTED" in large letters.
Here's Eastgate & Newton Falls heading west:
(https://i.imgur.com/jDJps23.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/W1IYxHD.jpg)
And heading back east - side story at Eastgate, I cleared one of the E-ZPass lanes no problem but the gate didn't rise for the car behind me. Good thing I was in front of them :ded:
(https://i.imgur.com/4cNNwBQ.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/zMpwarV.jpg)
I wonder if it's simply that, having waited for the year-end holidays to pass, OTC decided it missed its window and it's too cold/snowy/windy now to have crews out to do lane re-striping and removing the five zillion rivets holding the greenout sign covers at the new mainline barriers.
Sounds like the launch of the new tolling system is coming soon
https://www.news5cleveland.com/news/local-news/we-follow-through/ohio-turnpike-expects-to-go-live-with-open-road-tolling-sometime-in-the-next-couple-of-weeks
Posted today on the Ohio Turnpike website. At this point, I'll believe it when I see it.
Quote
BEREA, Ohio (March 22, 2024) – The Ohio Turnpike and Infrastructure Commission's new toll collection system, which started as a vision and a study in 2016, is nearing the final stages of completion. The switch to the new system – which began last year – will be phased in gradually over the next several weeks.
https://www.ohioturnpike.org/about-us/toll-collection-system-modernization
At this point I'm guessing they'll wait until after the eclipse to implement the new system.
There is more nonsense at the toll booths today.
Several years ago, I had a transponder fail at the eastern toll plaza on the Pennsylvania border near Youngstown. The NYSTA transponder worked fine until then and worked fine after that - but the system could not read it. They had to manually key it in or something to get the gate to open.
I had a similar failure at the Interstate 280 interchange near Toledo today. The manual lanes were already clogged, but the EZ-Pass-only lanes were equally congested. The person ahead of me tried paying with a credit card at the lanes - and required assistance. When it was my turn a few minutes later, my transponder failed to read. An employee saw I was stuck and came over. He pointed at my rooftop storage rack as the issue, although the transponder was properly mounted. He opened the gate, and the transponder was read electronically.
Never had an issue at any other tolling system except for the Ohio Turnpike and their antiquated transponder readers.
Quote from: Buck87 on March 28, 2024, 10:10:59 AMAt this point I'm guessing they'll wait until after the eclipse to implement the new system.
And then Mother's Day, and then Memorial Day, and then Independence Day, and then Labor Day, and then...
along came Jones
Quote from: wanderer2575 on April 03, 2024, 10:41:05 AMQuote from: Buck87 on March 28, 2024, 10:10:59 AMAt this point I'm guessing they'll wait until after the eclipse to implement the new system.
And then Mother's Day, and then Memorial Day, and then Independence Day, and then Labor Day, and then...
Maybe they will make the switch and uncover all the new signs DURING the eclipse, when no one's looking. That would really screw with people's minds...
Quote from: thenetwork on April 03, 2024, 01:56:02 PMQuote from: wanderer2575 on April 03, 2024, 10:41:05 AMQuote from: Buck87 on March 28, 2024, 10:10:59 AMAt this point I'm guessing they'll wait until after the eclipse to implement the new system.
And then Mother's Day, and then Memorial Day, and then Independence Day, and then Labor Day, and then...
Maybe they will make the switch and uncover all the new signs DURING the eclipse, when no one's looking. That would really screw with people's minds...
That's how Audrey II snuck onto Earth in
Little Shop of Horrors
Someone on Facebook claimed the switchover is coming Wednesday
Eastgate was a disaster yesterday, causing a backup that lasted as far east as I could see from the PA 551 overpass, so at least 7 miles. Apparently only one dedicated E-ZPass lane was open from posts I saw online. They should have gone online with the new tolling system before the eclipse.
Quote from: Bitmapped on April 09, 2024, 12:09:28 PMEastgate was a disaster yesterday, causing a backup that lasted as far east as I could see from the PA 551 overpass, so at least 7 miles. Apparently only one dedicated E-ZPass lane was open from posts I saw online. They should have gone online with the new tolling system before the eclipse.
I have two friends who were stuck in that disaster. It took them an hour to get through Eastgate with EZ-Pass.
Looking at Google maps early Monday evening there was also a considerable backup on the Turnpike caused by westbound traffic trying to get off onto I-280. At one point it was almost as far back as the Blue Heron service plaza.
Quote from: MASTERNC on April 08, 2024, 12:46:19 PMSomeone on Facebook claimed the switchover is coming Wednesday
Sure enough...multiple articles out stating the switchover happened at 2AM this morning. The turnpike's toll calculator has been updated to reflect the new system as well.
https://www.ohioturnpike.org/about-us/toll-collection-system-modernization
https://www.wtol.com/article/news/local/ohio-turnpike-toll-plaza-wauseon-four-month-closure/512-eec2cdf5-1153-4928-b0dd-98ab0d3615d6
Looks like the OTC is starting to rebuild the "former toll" plazas, eliminating the toll barriers and streamlining the transitions now that that section of the Turnpike is toll free for local traffic.
The Turnpike map available for downloading (and, I presume, the printed one available at service plazas) is still the original 2024 edition from before the toll system switchover. I wonder if Travel Boards, Inc. will put out a revised edition this year.
https://www.wtol.com/article/news/investigations/11-investigates/ohio-turnpike-drivers-angry-new-toll-system-rollout-open-road-tolling/512-df43e622-410d-4582-9b20-ff7c21e0b08f
Tolling problem shenanigans on the Ohio Turnpike...
The "customers are stupid" argument only gets you so far if you can't get 29% of your customer base to do the thing they're supposed to do.
"What we got here is failure to communicate".
Eesh. Ohio Turnpike's a disaster. People should probably also complain to the Governor.
Quote from: JREwing78 on August 08, 2024, 06:31:23 PMThe "customers are stupid" argument only gets you so far if you can't get 29% of your customer base to do the thing they're supposed to do.
The signs are clear that the through lanes are "E-ZPass Only." Signage here is similar to what I've seen used in Ohio states that had express versus cash lanes. OTIC needs to beef up their customer service phone support but this is a driver error issue.
To be blunt, the problems here just reinforce my view they should have gone to AET versus the substantial amount they spent building out this hybrid tolling scheme.
Not saying it's the main root cause (not even close), but it doesn't help matters if they label the manual toll lanes with a numbered EXIT tab on the BGSs.
I guess my logic is why would someone want to take an "Exit" on the Turnpike to pay a toll when I want to continue on the Turnpike.
The exit tabs on the overheads are not needed -- chop them off!
Quote from: Bitmapped on August 09, 2024, 08:17:23 AMQuote from: JREwing78 on August 08, 2024, 06:31:23 PMThe "customers are stupid" argument only gets you so far if you can't get 29% of your customer base to do the thing they're supposed to do.
The signs are clear that the through lanes are "E-ZPass Only." Signage here is similar to what I've seen used in Ohio states that had express versus cash lanes. OTIC needs to beef up their customer service phone support but this is a driver error issue.
To be blunt, the problems here just reinforce my view they should have gone to AET versus the substantial amount they spent building out this hybrid tolling scheme.
Quite frankly, the Ohio Turnpike has always been behind the times on this. They didn't even begin accepting E-ZPass until 15 years ago. At least they have ORT. The Indiana Toll Road still forces everyone to stop at booths with gate arms.
Quote from: thenetwork on August 09, 2024, 10:17:11 AMNot saying it's the main root cause (not even close), but it doesn't help matters if they label the manual toll lanes with a numbered EXIT tab on the BGSs.
I guess my logic is why would someone want to take an "Exit" on the Turnpike to pay a toll when I want to continue on the Turnpike.
The exit tabs on the overheads are not needed -- chop them off!
They have been. I drove through the Swanton Toll Plaza (west end of the closed system, west of OH-2) about a month ago and there were no exit tabs on the signs in either direction. It was around midnight so I didn't get any photos. I'm assuming the same was done at the other mainline plazas, but I won't see the two on the eastern side until October. Curious to know whether the exit tabs were removed before the new plazas went into operation, or sometime after.
Quote from: wanderer2575 on August 09, 2024, 01:13:12 PMQuote from: thenetwork on August 09, 2024, 10:17:11 AMNot saying it's the main root cause (not even close), but it doesn't help matters if they label the manual toll lanes with a numbered EXIT tab on the BGSs.
I guess my logic is why would someone want to take an "Exit" on the Turnpike to pay a toll when I want to continue on the Turnpike.
The exit tabs on the overheads are not needed -- chop them off!
They have been. I drove through the Swanton Toll Plaza (west end of the closed system, west of OH-2) about a month ago and there were no exit tabs on the signs in either direction. It was around midnight so I didn't get any photos. I'm assuming the same was done at the other mainline plazas, but I won't see the two on the eastern side until October. Curious to know whether the exit tabs were removed before the new plazas went into operation, or sometime after.
The exit tabs for the toll plazas were removed
AFTER the new plazas went into operation.
Part of issue could be is that you need to pull a ticket at Exit 52 (OH-2), then west bounders need to stop and pay and pull another ticket 3 miles later.
I have EZP on the company truck so I never stop at the plaza.
Quote from: Great Lakes Roads on August 09, 2024, 04:31:12 PMQuote from: wanderer2575 on August 09, 2024, 01:13:12 PMQuote from: thenetwork on August 09, 2024, 10:17:11 AMNot saying it's the main root cause (not even close), but it doesn't help matters if they label the manual toll lanes with a numbered EXIT tab on the BGSs.
I guess my logic is why would someone want to take an "Exit" on the Turnpike to pay a toll when I want to continue on the Turnpike.
The exit tabs on the overheads are not needed -- chop them off!
They have been. I drove through the Swanton Toll Plaza (west end of the closed system, west of OH-2) about a month ago and there were no exit tabs on the signs in either direction. It was around midnight so I didn't get any photos. I'm assuming the same was done at the other mainline plazas, but I won't see the two on the eastern side until October. Curious to know whether the exit tabs were removed before the new plazas went into operation, or sometime after.
The exit tabs for the toll plazas were removed AFTER the new plazas went into operation.
Just had a family thing in Hartville (a bit outside of Akron), and the signs approaching Eastgate after entering Ohio do have tabs on them right now.
Since they're still in the midst of converting Eastgate to the one-direction ORT/Traditional lanes hybrid model, all of the signs (including the tabs) are still greened out (or yellowed out)- so it's quite possible they'll just remove them when it is time to uncover the rest of the signs
And now, to add salt to the wound of the new ticket plazas, there was a multi-accident occurrence at the cash/EZ-Pass plaza split that killed several people this morning:
https://www.wtol.com/article/news/local/ohio-turnpike-fatal-crashes-timeline/512-9254ca6e-169d-4757-bb93-28c282120229?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR0VnPCtXNPiIuFC283q5i6VY2xq3gkSKHrWfvZ1F6c-FqJ6Xio-pW83ppc_aem_WtfbubDGddRv1h_boJS3CA
Quote from: thenetwork on August 15, 2024, 06:14:28 PMAnd now, to add salt to the wound of the new ticket plazas, there was a multi-accident occurrence at the cash/EZ-Pass plaza split that killed several people this morning:
https://www.wtol.com/article/news/local/ohio-turnpike-fatal-crashes-timeline/512-9254ca6e-169d-4757-bb93-28c282120229?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR0VnPCtXNPiIuFC283q5i6VY2xq3gkSKHrWfvZ1F6c-FqJ6Xio-pW83ppc_aem_WtfbubDGddRv1h_boJS3CA
I would say speeding and distracted driving played a role in these crashes. To be honest, I would rather have the Ohio Turnpike go towards all-electronic tolling than deal with this crap!
Quote from: vdeane on August 09, 2024, 12:57:36 PMAt least they have ORT. The Indiana Toll Road still forces everyone to stop at booths with gate arms.
Yep. Collecting that toll is far more important even if it comes at the expense of the massive backups that occur when a non-EZ-Pass car ends up in the EZ-Pass lane. :-( And while it's been a few years since I've been on either of those roads, at the time, the Indiana Toll Road had separate car and truck EZ-Pass lanes and I was charged a 5-axle truck toll when I used the truck EZ-Pass lane because the only car lane (at the mainline plaza at the west end of the Toll Road) was backed up with a car stuck at the gate.
Quote from: Great Lakes Roads on August 15, 2024, 10:12:26 PMQuote from: thenetwork on August 15, 2024, 06:14:28 PMAnd now, to add salt to the wound of the new ticket plazas, there was a multi-accident occurrence at the cash/EZ-Pass plaza split that killed several people this morning:
https://www.wtol.com/article/news/local/ohio-turnpike-fatal-crashes-timeline/512-9254ca6e-169d-4757-bb93-28c282120229?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR0VnPCtXNPiIuFC283q5i6VY2xq3gkSKHrWfvZ1F6c-FqJ6Xio-pW83ppc_aem_WtfbubDGddRv1h_boJS3CA
I would say speeding and distracted driving played a role in these crashes. To be honest, I would rather have the Ohio Turnpike go towards all-electronic tolling than deal with this crap!
The photo used in that article about the fatal crashes the other day cover a few things previously mentioned:
1) YES...the confusing exit tabs that many non-EZ-pass drivers may have mistook for actual exits, resulting in mailed bills (with penalty fees) are gone (but were kinda-sorta Incorporated into the main sign)
2) Especially for the western end of the ticketing system -- the listing of TOLL PLAZA 49 is still confusing as, on the other end of the western "Free Zone" is an un-numbered exit for SR-49!!!
3) Regarding the accruing late/penalty fees for those who mistakenly blew the get ticket/pay toll plazas, until they can fix the customer service lines, where people have waited HOURS for a live person, late fees and collection calls are on hold until they can fix the customer service problems.
4) Perhaps the OTC should either re-design the lanes at the split so the EZ-Pass lanes are striped as the EXIT and the cash/ticket lanes are striped as the main carriageway. As well as installing rumble strips across ALL lanes leading up to the split, if not installed already.
5) This is a good place for the Turnpike to use the one arrow per lane overhead signage as well, further eliminating any confusion that may occur to people thinking the toll plaza is an EXIT.
*EDIT*
I guess I'm not the only one thinking of these questions...the NTSB is now involved in the crash AND is looking to see why this set up is so hard for people to understand:
https://www.wtol.com/article/news/investigations/11-investigates/new-swanton-plaza-among-ntsb-investigation-deadly-ohio-turnpike-crashes-four-dead/512-45af718e-0cbc-4a4c-af7a-13b4908fe739?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR3b3v_3SjkGsc7K9hb7_sor89DudOfZfflP0Y_4VsgB_XP2oq6q74Haek4_aem_gijzCTMnG6RmcRE4vF8nHw
Quote from: thenetwork on August 16, 2024, 04:58:11 PM2) Especially for the western end of the ticketing system -- the listing of TOLL PLAZA 49 is still confusing as, on the other end of the western "Free Zone" is an un-numbered exit for SR-49!!!
Honestly, the fact that it still doesn't have an exit number is one thing that doesn't make sense.
https://www.wtol.com/article/news/local/11-investigates-turnpike-director-addresses-swanton-toll-plaza/512-b8c35442-6c69-4b2c-868c-4c1158061408
News media: "EXIT 49"
Me: :banghead: It's NOT EXIT 49! There's no exit to get off!
Wonder why they haven't thought to call it the Swanton Toll Plaza or Swantom Township Toll Plaza to eliminate any confusion.
Quote from: Ted$8roadFan on September 01, 2024, 02:01:16 PMWonder why they haven't thought to call it the Stanton Toll Plaza or Stanton Township Toll Plaza to eliminate any confusion.
That would be too easy, despite the name being SWANTON.
https://www.wkyc.com/article/news/investigations/3news-investigates-transponder-troubles-ohio-turnpike-customers-cost-safety-concerns-new-toll-system/95-821c35f4-22c3-4539-8198-23dcb3bd5879
Even a former employee of the Ohio Turnpike that got fired for "speaking out about his concerns"...
More shenanigans on the Turnpike!
Quote from: Great Lakes Roads on October 16, 2024, 06:33:21 PMhttps://www.wkyc.com/article/news/investigations/3news-investigates-transponder-troubles-ohio-turnpike-customers-cost-safety-concerns-new-toll-system/95-821c35f4-22c3-4539-8198-23dcb3bd5879
Even a former employee of the Ohio Turnpike that got fired for "speaking out about his concerns"...
More shenanigans on the Turnpike!
Article only provides his side of the story.
Turnpike Director Ahmed has had plenty of opportunity to rebut, and can at any time. This isn't a case of the poor little charitable roadway being poorly treated by the big bad journalists and the general public. They have PR staff.
As much as people bitch and moan about ISTHA's fares and the general incompetence of the current lessors of the Indiana Toll Road, once issue I almost never run into is not having my transponder get read. That's Toll Road 101 stuff - you can't have a toll road if you can't collect tolls.
The Ohio Turnpike, being late to the game on Open Road Tolling, and already having the rest of the infrastructure necessary for EZ-Pass, should've been able to pull this transition off smoothly. The fact that months later they're STILL having problems tells me they didn't do their homework prior to deployment.
Quote from: thenetwork on September 02, 2024, 12:06:33 PMQuote from: Ted$8roadFan on September 01, 2024, 02:01:16 PMWonder why they haven't thought to call it the Stanton Toll Plaza or Stanton Township Toll Plaza to eliminate any confusion.
That would be too easy, despite the name being SWANTON.
Darn that spellcheck.
I drove westbound on the Turnpike a couple weeks ago on my way home from Baltimore. I was surprised that Eastgate looked like construction had begun just recently. The non-stop ORT lanes looked they were just finished but they weren't yet open. All traffic was going through the gates (still lowering and raising for each vehicle) at the old tollbooth and I saw no sign that construction of a new tollbooth for non-E-ZPass traffic had even begun. Is that supposed to happen?
The exit number tabs were removed from the signs at the Newton Falls toll plaza (eastern end of the closed system), but they're still potentially confusing. What does "GET TICKET" mean? The signs have always said that and it was no big deal when all traffic went through the tollbooths, but I can see where now it's a problem. The right sign should read "CASH OR CREDIT" and then Get Ticket signs can be posted downstream for those lanes.
(https://i.imgur.com/KE3sAmv.jpeg)
OTC still insists on showing toll plaza names based on mile markers, which is pointless. And, as has been pointed out, Toll Plaza 49 on the west side of the state can be confused with the OH-49 interchange.
(https://i.imgur.com/SPxEAQF.jpeg)
Approaching I-680's southern terminus at the Turnpike. "PREPARE TO STOP" has been yellowed out here.
(https://i.imgur.com/2lopd7J.jpeg)
"CHECK BRAKES / STOP AHEAD" has been overlaid with a new message.
(https://i.imgur.com/9t9wGTU.jpeg)
In the US 23 thread Tempo Nick posted a Toledo Blade article about the state senate bill, and there's was this interesting addition to the list of other things the bill did:
QuoteIn addition to the U.S. 23 bypass language, the Senate added a requirement that the turnpike commission study the feasibility of a new interchange and access point near Clyde in Sandusky County. The commission must report back on that by the end of next year.
I wonder if that will go anywhere. If the point is to serve Clyde then I'd guess OH 510 would be the best option, tho it is located only about a half mile west of an existing service plaza pair (Commodore Perry/Erie Islands).
I've been wanting an exit at OH 412, but 510 works.
The landfill at the OH 510 overpass and the rest area barely 1/2 mile away complicates matters. Eastbound exiting and westbound entering won't be too bad at OH 510, but exiting westbound and entering eastbound are going to be messy. I'd shift the westbound exit and eastbound entrance east to County 260, just east of the rest area. Then the eastbound exit and westbound entrance could originate from OH-412 just west of the rest area.
They could do a more typical interchange at County 266, that directly connects to OH-101 to the south and US-6 to the north. That's still close enough to serve Clyde.
I'd struggle with going further west; now we're giving Fremont a 2nd exit instead of serving Clyde, and there's no N-S road currently that directly connects US-6 to US-20. What we have there is scope creep.
Quote from: JREwing78 on March 21, 2025, 09:56:45 PMThe landfill at the OH 510 overpass and the rest area barely 1/2 mile away complicates matters. Eastbound exiting and westbound entering won't be too bad at OH 510, but exiting westbound and entering eastbound are going to be messy. I'd shift the westbound exit and eastbound entrance east to County 260, just east of the rest area. Then the eastbound exit and westbound entrance could originate from OH-412 just west of the rest area.
They could do a more typical interchange at County 266, that directly connects to OH-101 to the south and US-6 to the north. That's still close enough to serve Clyde.
I'd struggle with going further west; now we're giving Fremont a 2nd exit instead of serving Clyde, and there's no N-S road currently that directly connects US-6 to US-20. What we have there is scope creep.
If things haven't changed too much in recent decades, the main reason why they want an exit near Clyde is because of Whirlpool's factory and distribution center there.
I think the potential cost of building a new Clyde exit would be better spent improving and adding lanes to the sections of SR-53 & SR-4 that run between US-20 and the Turnpike. Currently there is no quick connection between the 4-lane US-20 and the 6-lane turnpike anywhere between Fremont and Elyria. And with all the truck traffic on both highways, there should be at least one 4+ lane, mostly free-flowing, connection in there somewhere.
Another sign of the apocalypse: I took a late night drive last night down to the Turnpike (176 miles round-trip, plus a few miles wandering through Elmore) to see if my new IL Tollway I-Pass sticker works on the Turnpike (it does, although I haven't checked to see if/how the charges hit). On the way back home I stopped at the westbound Blue Heron service plaza before I-280 to get something unhealthy to eat, just because. This was around midnight, Saturday. And the Hardee's was closed. None of the restaurants in the food court was open. If I really needed to shove something down my gullet, beef jerky or chips or prepackaged egg salad sandwiches in the convenience mart were all that was available. What the hell?
Quote from: wanderer2575 on April 13, 2025, 10:26:18 PMAnother sign of the apocalypse: I took a late night drive last night down to the Turnpike (176 miles round-trip, plus a few miles wandering through Elmore) to see if my new IL Tollway I-Pass sticker works on the Turnpike (it does, although I haven't checked to see if/how the charges hit). On the way back home I stopped at the westbound Blue Heron service plaza before I-280 to get something unhealthy to eat, just because. This was around midnight, Saturday. And the Hardee's was closed. None of the restaurants in the food court was open. If I really needed to shove something down my gullet, beef jerky or chips or prepackaged egg salad sandwiches in the convenience mart were all that was available. What the hell?
This is outrageous, greasy food at service plazas in the middle of the night is our right. I don't even recognize this country any more!
It appears that only the Burger Kings at the service plazas at MPs 20.8, 139.5, and 170.1 (both directions for each) are open 24 hours. It's truly outrageous! Maybe you should have taken your turnpike trip during the day, wanderer2575.
Awright, awright, "sign of the apocalypse" was a little strong and meant as a joke. I was noting that, along with 24-hour fuel, the service plazas all used to have 24-hour foodservice. Most people out there are not on aimless joyrides as I was and maybe can't choose to make the travel during the day.
Quote from: wanderer2575 on April 14, 2025, 03:36:41 PMAwright, awright, "sign of the apocalypse" was a little strong and meant as a joke. I was noting that, along with 24-hour fuel, the service plazas all used to have 24-hour foodservice. Most people out there are not on aimless joyrides as I was and maybe can't choose to make the travel during the day.
But you still can get some form of food at the C-Store and/or the vending machines inside 24/7...
Quote from: thenetwork on April 14, 2025, 04:10:07 PMQuote from: wanderer2575 on April 14, 2025, 03:36:41 PMAwright, awright, "sign of the apocalypse" was a little strong and meant as a joke. I was noting that, along with 24-hour fuel, the service plazas all used to have 24-hour foodservice. Most people out there are not on aimless joyrides as I was and maybe can't choose to make the travel during the day.
But you still can get some form of food at the C-Store and/or the vending machines inside 24/7...
But it's a definite downgrade. If you're out then and need a proper meal for whatever reason, you're SOL.
I took the Ohio Turnpike westbound between the PA line and I-480/SR 14 yesterday. A couple notes, including some things OTIC has done to address complaints from people who can't understand E-ZPass only lanes:
1. There seems to be some pavement reconstruction going on in the 6-lane portion near Lordstown. It looks like they didn't reconstruct the original lanes when they filled in the median with new lanes.
2. In the "toll free" zone, they've added signs just before the on-ramp merges onto the mainline indicating how many miles to the toll plaza.
3. BGS signage for the toll plazas has been revised. They got rid of the exit number tabs, added a graphic icon for toll taker on the sign for the staffed lanes and changed the verbiage from "Cash - Change - Receipts" to "Cash - Credit" or something like that.
4. There are now multiple VMS set up at 2/4/6-mile intervals for the Eastgate plaza and starting 7 miles out for Newton Falls approaching the plazas saying "No EZPass? / Keep Right X Miles". Some of the VMS are actually located in Pennsylvania.
5. There are signs after the mainline plazas saying to visit ezpassoh.com within 7 days to pay if you missed a toll.
6. I didn't notice any signs of demolishing the old ramp toll plazas in the toll-free zone.
No activity at the 4 in the toll free zone in Western Ohio either. Keeping in case they want to toll again?
I drove between I-75 and I-75 last week, seemed more was under construction than not.
Quote from: Bitmapped on June 22, 2025, 12:37:14 PM1. There seems to be some pavement reconstruction going on in the 6-lane portion near Lordstown. It looks like they didn't reconstruct the original lanes when they filled in the median with new lanes.
They didn't, and that goes for the entire length of the six-laning. Nor did they resurface the original lanes. Which has resulted in some instances of lane closures for resurfacing the original lanes, then lane closures a few years later to resurface the newer left lane, then repeat.
Quote from: wanderer2575 on July 01, 2025, 02:59:39 PMQuote from: Bitmapped on June 22, 2025, 12:37:14 PM1. There seems to be some pavement reconstruction going on in the 6-lane portion near Lordstown. It looks like they didn't reconstruct the original lanes when they filled in the median with new lanes.
They didn't, and that goes for the entire length of the six-laning. Nor did they resurface the original lanes. Which has resulted in some instances of lane closures for resurfacing the original lanes, then lane closures a few years later to resurface the newer left lane, then repeat.
Full-depth reconstruction would've taken longer to pull off and cost more. They did do repairs to the original concrete underneath the asphalt to stabilize it, but that's obviously not going to have the lifespan of a full-depth rebuild. The right lanes tend to get more heavy truck traffic as well, necessitating more frequent resurfacing.
Traffic levels aren't so heavy that this cycle of resurfacing the original lanes, than the new lanes, is that big of a problem. Also, the Turnpike tends to resurface on a pretty frequent schedule compared to its Indiana counterparts.
Quote from: wanderer2575 on April 14, 2025, 03:36:41 PMAwright, awright, "sign of the apocalypse" was a little strong and meant as a joke. I was noting that, along with 24-hour fuel, the service plazas all used to have 24-hour foodservice. Most people out there are not on aimless joyrides as I was and maybe can't choose to make the travel during the day.
I dont remember the old sit-down Hojo's at the old service plazas being 24/7.
I was up on the turnpike on Friday one thing I noticed was that the white sign they installed telling trucks/slower traffic to keep to the two right lanes had a rounded border.
Do you think they are changing the signs to be consistent with the rest of the highway system or was this just an oversight? The signage on the turnpike has squared off borders.
(https://i.ytimg.com/vi/DPlUo0qwhEE/maxresdefault.jpg)
Quote from: TempoNick on July 13, 2025, 05:32:22 PMI was up on the turnpike on Friday one thing I noticed was that the white sign they installed telling trucks/slower traffic to keep to the two right lanes had a rounded border.
Do you think they are changing the signs to be consistent with the rest of the highway system or was this just an oversight? The signage on the turnpike has squared off borders.
(https://i.ytimg.com/vi/DPlUo0qwhEE/maxresdefault.jpg)
Likely just a stray. The turnpike has not been the most consistent when it comes to making signs.. I noticed when I drove from Youngstown to Cleveland Friday that there are noticible spacing/kerning differences as well as some overhead pull-throughs which still list THRU TRAFFIC as the control city. Some of the smaller ground-based signs have rounded corners as well.
What if I want to go to Thru Traffic?