State Lays Out Vision for U.S. 23 Corridor Through Central Ohio

[carbaugh2]

Based on the budget bill, the Turnpike's involvement is limited to the I-71/US 23 connector. The intent is not to create a long extension of the Ohio Turnpike.

[TempoNick]

^^^ I bet that ODOT would get off their butts and build it if they had the Turnpike Commission on their tail. You know how these agencies try to protect their turf.

Wouldn't this be a win for ODOT? Seems like they're reluctant to convert US 23 to a freeway and it would be one less highway to maintain if it were built by the Turnpike Commission. I never considered a Columbus Spur of the Ohio Turnpike, but it makes a lot of sense for it to extend off of I-280 down to I-71.

I think it'd be better off if they abandoned the single I-73 route from Michigan to South Carolina and break it up into smaller projects. Whether that means a 'Columbus Spur' becomes the Northern I-73, or it becomes an extension of I-280.

I-73 is good in the long run, but for the time being I've always thought it should be I-875 or I-877. If you're wondering why I-877, they could take one of the other diagonal roads into Southern Ohio to connect to I-77. I don't think tolls will fly in that part of the state, however. Too poor.

I also wonder if tolls will fly on a road like US 23 which is already in place. It seems to me that the existing 23 should not be tolled. However tolling is legitimate on any new segments that are built.

Recently, I've been thinking what might also work at least in the interim is to incorporate the outer-outerbelt from Sunbury to Lancaster into I-73. Then just upgrade US 33 until you get to I-77.

[I-55]

^^^ I bet that ODOT would get off their butts and build it if they had the Turnpike Commission on their tail. You know how these agencies try to protect their turf.

Wouldn't this be a win for ODOT? Seems like they're reluctant to convert US 23 to a freeway and it would be one less highway to maintain if it were built by the Turnpike Commission. I never considered a Columbus Spur of the Ohio Turnpike, but it makes a lot of sense for it to extend off of I-280 down to I-71.

I think it'd be better off if they abandoned the single I-73 route from Michigan to South Carolina and break it up into smaller projects. Whether that means a 'Columbus Spur' becomes the Northern I-73, or it becomes an extension of I-280.

I-73 is good in the long run, but for the time being I've always thought it should be I-875 or I-877. If you're wondering why I-877, they could take one of the other diagonal roads into Southern Ohio to connect to I-77. I don't think tolls will fly in that part of the state, however. Too poor.

I also wonder if tolls will fly on a road like US 23 which is already in place. It seems to me that the existing 23 should not be tolled. However tolling is legitimate on any new segments that are built.

Recently, I've been thinking what might also work at least in the interim is to incorporate the outer-outerbelt from Sunbury to Lancaster into I-73. Then just upgrade US 33 until you get to I-77.

I could see a future where there's a 4-route concurrency on the WV Turnpike (64,73,74,77) if this proposal gets built. If it were to utilize a 3di number it would probably be first digit odd (175, 377, etc.) as it would act more as a spur (see I-135 KS, I-380 IA) through a major city

[Molandfreak]

Getting into obnoxious fictional territory here, but one of the issues with using I-73 in Ohio is the presence of the rather lengthy and well-known SR 73 which it could intersect near Portsmouth. While it would be a grid-buster, I would suggest using I-63, acknowledging that the corridors will likely never connect.

[GCrites]

Isn't it that if there is a number conflict that the state route has to change numbers, not the Federal?

[PColumbus73]

Getting into obnoxious fictional territory here, but one of the issues with using I-73 in Ohio is the presence of the rather lengthy and well-known SR 73 which it could intersect near Portsmouth. While it would be a grid-buster, I would suggest using I-63, acknowledging that the corridors will likely never connect.

I support rebranding the Ohio portion as I-63.

Isn't it that if there is a number conflict that the state route has to change numbers, not the Federal?

That's probably why I-42 was chosen over I-36 in North Carolina. I don't believe there would be a number conflict between I & OH 73, but the state avoids duplicates.

[TempoNick]

^^^ I bet that ODOT would get off their butts and build it if they had the Turnpike Commission on their tail. You know how these agencies try to protect their turf.

Wouldn't this be a win for ODOT? Seems like they're reluctant to convert US 23 to a freeway and it would be one less highway to maintain if it were built by the Turnpike Commission. I never considered a Columbus Spur of the Ohio Turnpike, but it makes a lot of sense for it to extend off of I-280 down to I-71.

I think it'd be better off if they abandoned the single I-73 route from Michigan to South Carolina and break it up into smaller projects. Whether that means a 'Columbus Spur' becomes the Northern I-73, or it becomes an extension of I-280.

I-73 is good in the long run, but for the time being I've always thought it should be I-875 or I-877. If you're wondering why I-877, they could take one of the other diagonal roads into Southern Ohio to connect to I-77. I don't think tolls will fly in that part of the state, however. Too poor.

I also wonder if tolls will fly on a road like US 23 which is already in place. It seems to me that the existing 23 should not be tolled. However tolling is legitimate on any new segments that are built.

Recently, I've been thinking what might also work at least in the interim is to incorporate the outer-outerbelt from Sunbury to Lancaster into I-73. Then just upgrade US 33 until you get to I-77.

I could see a future where there's a 4-route concurrency on the WV Turnpike (64,73,74,77) if this proposal gets built. If it were to utilize a 3di number it would probably be first digit odd (175, 377, etc.) as it would act more as a spur (see I-135 KS, I-380 IA) through a major city

Don't spur numbers usually dead end somewhere? I know I-380 in Iowa dead ends right into US 20 in Waterloo. I guess you could have two spurs, I-175 to the Northwest and I-377 to the southeast.

Re: Ohio 73

I don't think anybody is going to miss Ohio 73 which could easily become 173, 273, 373, etc. whichever of those numbers are available. Remember, when I-75 was completed, Ohio 75 was thrown into the trash heap of History!

If nothing is available, which I doubt, we can do it Kentucky style with four digits. 😆

[The Ghostbuster]

If OH 73 had to be renumbered to make way for an Interstate 73 within the state, renumbering it to OH 1, OH 69, or OH 92 are possibilities, since those designations are not currently in use.

[Rothman]

MD 68 and I-68 have coexisted peacefully for decades.

Oh wait.  I-73 won't be done in my childrens' lifetimes...whatever.

[TempoNick]

MD 68 and I-68 have coexisted peacefully for decades.

Oh wait.  I-73 won't be done in my childrens' lifetimes...whatever.

I told you guys this the last time the legislature passed something on I-73 within the last couple of years and I was mocked. When there is this much conversation about a supposedly dead topic at the Statehouse, something is brewing that we don't know about.

Kind of like the US 33 four-laning, and the new bridge into West Virginia. I don't think that was on anybody's radar. Is Ohio getting a bunch of money dumped on it thanks to the fact that our Vice President comes from our beloved state? I wouldn't bet against it.

If you remember the last time we had a bunch of money dumped on us, it was during the 2009 meltdown and we got the long dormant Nelsonville bypass completed. Also helping matters was the fact that we had a governor / former congressman from Appalachia.

Something's brewing. That doesn't mean all of I-73 will get completed, but I'm pretty confident something is going to happen at least between Toledo and Columbus.

[carbaugh2]

This isn't about federal money coming in because of the vice president coming from Ohio. It is about a large contingent of legislative leadership (both houses, both parties) representing places along the US 23 corridor, especially Northwest Ohio, that are tired of the status quo on 23. I'm sure that the RIRO plan released by ODOT was the proverbial final straw.

2 years ago, the former Speaker got the Chesapeake Bypass revived, while the House Finance Chair (from Nelsonville) got the US 33 expansion. They also restarted the I-73 discussion using the transportation budget. This time around, the Speaker (former Senate President) is from Lima, while the new House Finance Chair represents Circleville. The current Senate President represents Bowling Green and areas near Findlay.

It shows 2 things: First, the legislature (97-0 in the House, and I wouldn't be surprised if it ends up unanimously passing the Senate) is telling ODOT that the RIRO plan isn't viable. Second, it also shows that the legislature is telling Delaware County residents that this is going to happen.

[TempoNick]

This isn't about federal money coming in because of the vice president coming from Ohio. It is about a large contingent of legislative leadership (both houses, both parties) representing places along the US 23 corridor, especially Northwest Ohio, that are tired of the status quo on 23. I'm sure that the RIRO plan released by ODOT was the proverbial final straw.

2 years ago, the former Speaker got the Chesapeake Bypass revived, while the House Finance Chair (from Nelsonville) got the US 33 expansion. They also restarted the I-73 discussion using the transportation budget. This time around, the Speaker (former Senate President) is from Lima, while the new House Finance Chair represents Circleville. The current Senate President represents Bowling Green and areas near Findlay.

It shows 2 things: First, the legislature (97-0 in the House, and I wouldn't be surprised if it ends up unanimously passing the Senate) is telling ODOT that the RIRO plan isn't viable. Second, it also shows that the legislature is telling Delaware County residents that this is going to happen.

All of what you said may have merit. Maybe the extremely stupid RIRO plan was indeed the proverbial last straw. But you need to read into the history of the Nelsonville bypass, it needed Federal juice to get done. It was a 200 million dollar project that was DOA until Ted Strickland got Obama to dump 150 million into it. It was a priority for Strickland because he has always been an advocate for Appalachia. Don't kid yourself that it doesn't pay to have friends in high places. Real life is not like they teach you in 12th grade civics class.

[GCrites]

It shows 2 things: First, the legislature (97-0 in the House, and I wouldn't be surprised if it ends up unanimously passing the Senate) is telling ODOT that the RIRO plan isn't viable. Second, it also shows that the legislature is telling Delaware County residents that this is going to happen.

Hmm, I didn't think of that initially but you may be right. I looked at it like, "The Statehouse is trying to get attention from their constituents with this big flashy project then end up doing nothing" since that happens all the time with politicians. And I also haven't seen an entire legislative house stand up to ODOT like that. Individual politicians, yes. But if the politicians are serious you called it.

[GCrites]

All of what you said may have merit. Maybe the extremely stupid RIRO plan was indeed the proverbial last straw. But you need to read into the history of the Nelsonville bypass, it needed Federal juice to get done. It was a 200 million dollar project that was DOA until Ted Strickland got Obama to dump 150 million into it. It was a priority for Strickland because he has always been an advocate for Appalachia. Don't kid yourself that it doesn't pay to have friends in high places. Real life is not like they teach you in 12th grade civics class.

The current legislature does side with Appalachia on a lot of issues but there isn't anyone lately that can bring home giant projects like the big bypasses and 32. Those really do take Appalachians at the very top like Vern Riffe, Gov. Roads and Strickland.

[thenetwork]

This isn't about federal money coming in because of the vice president coming from Ohio. It is about a large contingent of legislative leadership (both houses, both parties) representing places along the US 23 corridor, especially Northwest Ohio, that are tired of the status quo on 23. I'm sure that the RIRO plan released by ODOT was the proverbial final straw.

I remember whan ODOT said, "Let's eliminate the US-23 'bottlenecks'by I-270, and build a Northbound-ONLY "Express Trench" so traffic can bypass some of the first busy intersections when they come off of I-270".

ODOT and the state keep doing stupid half-assed projects like that and it's no wonder that the traffic keeps getting worse and current alternatives are being scoffed at.

[TempoNick]

The current legislature does side with Appalachia on a lot of issues but there isn't anyone lately that can bring home giant projects like the big bypasses and 32. Those really do take Appalachians at the very top like Vern Riffe, Gov. Roads and Strickland.

Well, we kind of have one now, almost at the very top with JD. Let's hope he has some pull.

I remember whan ODOT said, "Let's eliminate the US-23 'bottlenecks'by I-270, and build a Northbound-ONLY "Express Trench" so traffic can bypass some of the first busy intersections when they come off of I-270".

ODOT and the state keep doing stupid half-assed projects like that and it's no wonder that the traffic keeps getting worse and current alternatives are being scoffed at.

Yup. That has been what I've been ranting about with this debacle. It's almost like they're looking for reasons not to fix it. You don't have to be an engineer. Anybody can see what the problem is and what the solution is. They paid millions to that engineering company for a bunch of pretty slides and pretty reports that come up with a very stupid result. And they go with it like it was etched in a tablet and handed down by Moses. That's why I'm saying ODOT should be blown up. (Figuratively, that is.)

Indiana builds I-69 and North Carolina builds I-73 and I-74. We build RIROs and J-turns.

[TempoNick]

Conspiracy time:

1. Do you think ODOT has been captured by all these mass transit weenies and urbanist wankers? Are they deliberately trying to choke the area to force us into choo-choo's? I have nothing against trains by the way, but not at the expense of the kinds of roads we need.

2. Are Kokosing and Shelly and Sands lobbying against this behind the scenes? Is fixing something once and for all versus endless Band-Aids less profitable for them?

[GCrites]

If anything the proposed southern Delaware County is trying to please business interests first since an all new alignment takes away their valuable drive-by traffic. The area in question is not a high-priority transit corridor due to its location far from the core city. Most rail transit ideas stop at Polaris at the furthest. Even in a city that prioritizes rail anything north of Polaris would see low-frequency commuter rail at best.

IMO ODOT is trying to keep the cost down (even with the $2B price tag) while maintaining business access and that's why the RIROs are so prolific. It seems like nothing that doesn't cost $1B matters anymore.

[PColumbus73]

I would guess an interstate conversion of US 23 would require the 23-71 connection to be built, which would be a good reason for business interests between Delaware and I-270 to lobby against it.

[Bitmapped]

It shows 2 things: First, the legislature (97-0 in the House, and I wouldn't be surprised if it ends up unanimously passing the Senate) is telling ODOT that the RIRO plan isn't viable. Second, it also shows that the legislature is telling Delaware County residents that this is going to happen.

Hmm, I didn't think of that initially but you may be right. I looked at it like, "The Statehouse is trying to get attention from their constituents with this big flashy project then end up doing nothing" since that happens all the time with politicians. And I also haven't seen an entire legislative house stand up to ODOT like that. Individual politicians, yes. But if the politicians are serious you called it.

The House didn't "stand up to ODOT." They voted for the statewide transportation funding bill.

[GCrites]

Oh I see, it is a "Why not both?" situation.

[TempoNick]

This is very simple, at least to me:

1) Fix US 23 as a freeway with a connector to I-71 first;
2) Do some traffic calming on US 23 to make it 35 mph or 45 mph (Traffic circles maybe) to force traffic off the road and onto the connector;
3) Reassess.

You may not need to do any major fixes to US 23 after this, but you may need a fourth/fifth lane on I-71 to wherever the connector ends up being.

[thenetwork]

This is very simple, at least to me:

1) Fix US 23 as a freeway with a connector to I-71 first;
2) Do some traffic calming on US 23 to make it 35 mph or 45 mph (Traffic circles maybe) to force traffic off the road and onto the c

This is very simple, at least to me:


2) Do some traffic calming on US 23 to make it 35 mph or 45 mph (Traffic circles maybe) to force traffic off the road and onto the connector

That's what the newest section of Sawmill Parkway is from US-42 in Delaware down into Powell -- 45 MPH with roundabouts. 

A limited-access highway connection between 23 and 71 (freeway or tollway) should take off enough regional and long-distance traffic south of Deleware.

[Buck87]

Not sure if it's been brought up before, but on the topic on US 23 upgrades in Ohio, there is a project scheduled for 2027 that will convert the at grade intersection at OH 294 between Marion and Upper to a full diamond interchange:

https://www.transportation.ohio.gov/projects/projects/121424

[TempoNick]

Ohio 529: "Fifth option for potential U.S. 23 bypass put on table"


Archived at:
https://archive.is/33fLi

Original link: https://www.toledoblade.com/local/transportation/2025/03/19/potential-us-23-bypass-northwest-ohio-columbus-fifth-option-put-on-tabl