The Lockbourne By-Pass

[Hot Rod Hootenanny]

East-West Connector would benefit Rickenbacker Area
Members at MORPC's Policy and Commission meeting this month were presented with information on the proposed East-West Connector, a project that would connect the Rickenbacker Airport and intermodal yard to US 23 and thereby I-270 and I-71.
Norfolk Southern's Rickenbacker Intermodal Facility transfers containers between trains and trucks, and provides central Ohio businesses an intermodal transportation system to move their products efficiently to and from domestic and international markets.

The Rickenbacker logistics area is projected to create 12,000 new jobs and have a $15.1 billion economic impact over the next 30 years.

The East-West Connector project would accommodate increased container traffic as from the facility. Currently trucks are transporting goods unlawfully on weight restricted county and township roads. Poor roads in the Rickenbacker area have driven some companies to locate elsewhere rather than in what should be a growing area.

The project would transform this sub-standard roadway system to state route standards, upgrading two intersections and providing grade separation over two railroads, thus reducing delays and increasing safety in the area.

The road network is currently ill-equipped to handle trucks, let alone the increased commercial traffic expected from the widening of the Panama Canal due to open in 2014.  Containers from the Panama Canal will reach Columbus via the Heartland Corridor, a high-capacity rail route linking Columbus and the Port of Virginia.

"The Rickenbacker airport and intermodal rail facility are internationally recognized and are two of the most important logistics assets in central Ohio," said Robert Lawler, Transportation Director for MORPC. "In addition to strengthening the road network, building the East-West Connector will only make them more valuable to our economy."

The East-West Connector project would drive and support the growth of this important area in central Ohio, while ensuring safe and efficient transportation for the region's valuable freight industry.

http://us2.campaign-archive1.com/?u=2cb2461e42ec60600137325d2&id=326c8f0cde

[6a]

I really wish they would get some money for this, especially now that the Alum Creek/Groveport intersection improvements have started (and thank fuck for that!)  That whole area is a pain in the ass.

[Hot Rod Hootenanny]

I also saw, several weeks back, that work on the long promised (since 1973!) Shadeville bypass, aka the 665/317 connector with US 23, has started as well.
(Not connected with the East-West Connector)

[6a]

Yup, Scioto Downs paid for that with their fancy new casino money.

[vtk]

Back in early spring I saw vehicle tracks through the farm fields approximating the alignment of the relocated portion of Duvall Rd for this project, but those crops are now grown-in uninterrupted. 

I heard MORPC has dedicated some big dollar figure to get the project going next year.

According to the project website, which hasn't been updated in a while, the relevant sections of Duvall Rd and Asheville Pk are to become state highway.  Extended OH 762, perhaps?  And would it terminate at the intermodal facility, or follow Rickenbacker Pkwy and Alum Creek Dr to meet OH 317?

[Hot Rod Hootenanny]

Back in early spring I saw vehicle tracks through the farm fields approximating the alignment of the relocated portion of Duvall Rd for this project, but those crops are now grown-in uninterrupted. 

I heard MORPC has dedicated some big dollar figure to get the project going next year.

According to the project website, which hasn't been updated in a while, the relevant sections of Duvall Rd and Asheville Pk are to become state highway.  Extended OH 762, perhaps?  And would it terminate at the intermodal facility, or follow Rickenbacker Pkwy and Alum Creek Dr to meet OH 317?

Dispatch article (from the last couple of weeks) stated that Oh 762 would be extended east along the new road to Rickenbacker. Didn't say if it would be extend through the facility to 317.

[GCrites]

Ashville Pike is now signed as SR 762 between Duvall Rd. and Rickenbacker Parkway. It's been 1-2 weeks.

[vtk]

Ashville Pike is now signed as SR 762 between Duvall Rd. and Rickenbacker Parkway. It's been 1-2 weeks.

I don't think it's been that long.  It's been one week I think since Ashville Pike re-opened to two-way traffic, and I first noticed (from a distance) a state route marker assembly about two days ago.  (I visit the intermodal facility there a few times per week for work, but I haven't yet had reason to go south from there since Ashville Pike reopened.  When it was one-way and I did have to go south, it was a bitch because the only way was to go all the way up to 317 first.)

[GCrites]

It was definitely signed Thursday since that's the last time I was through there. Tuesday of last week also.

[6a]

Given all the money invested in the Alum Creek corridor lately, I wonder why the Drive isn't a state route at least up to 270? You'd think that, since the whole point of these projects is to ease the flow of goods around Rickenbacker, a numbered route from 270 to 23 would be the easy way out.

[GCrites]

I wouldn't rule it out. Most alternatives I've seen involve at least one eventual 4-lane road between Rickenbacker and 23. We own property in some of the alternatives' R/W so we have hard copies of the plans. I don't have easy access to them right now and don't know where they are online.

[vtk]

Well as it is, 762 is being extended at least to the intersection of Rickenbacker Pkwy and Ashville Pk.  From there, it's all four-lane (with no turns!) along Rickenbacker Pkwy and Alum Creek Dr to I-270.  However, since that's already built, I don't see any reason the entities involved will push for a state route designation there.  Unless of course it's already happened on paper and the signage just needs to be installed.