I-70 Columbus Far East Freeway

[carbaugh2]

I remember portions of this project getting discussed elsewhere (thinking of you, US 33) but could not find anything for the project as a whole.

https://www.transportation.ohio.gov/projects/mega-projects/mega-projects/far-east-freeway


Despite the ODOT web page listing Phase 1 (https://www.transportation.ohio.gov/projects/projects/95639) in pre-construction, work has been progressing for the last 6-7 months. I use this interchange on my morning commute (it's 161 going home), so I can only report on obvious (read as big) changes due to driving through before sunrise. Sound walls are nearly complete along the length of the construction zone. Piers are taking shape for the new flyover ramp from 270 South to 70 East, with the loop ramp from 270 North to 70 West currently closed to allow work to continue. Scarborough Boulevard has been removed in front of the JCPenney logistics center (and former outlet store) to make way for braided ramps from 70 East and 270 South to Brice Road, with a design that is similar to the current configuration at the 270/670 interchange. Selfishly, I hope that they have the flyover ramp open before the 161 widening through New Albany begins. I'm sure that the winter weather has helped with the timeline.

The recently released TRAC draft list indicates construction on phases 2 & 3 of the 70/270/Brice Rd area will begin at some point during FY 2024, so it appears the project will not have a lapse between phases.

I haven't been by the Hamilton or US 33 exits recently enough to know if the safety projects listed on the main project page have begun to date.

[Hot Rod Hootenanny]

I haven't been by the Hamilton or US 33 exits recently enough to know if the safety projects listed on the main project page have begun to date.

Having drove down 33 last week, there is nothing going on between I-70 & Nelsonville at this time.

[carbaugh2]

I'm bumping this one because of the recent public meeting on the 256/204/Taylor Rd interchange. There are new project renderings available at https://www.transportation.ohio.gov/projects/projects/96808. My hope is that the westbound exit at Taylor Rd will help alleviate some of the backup at Taylor/256 just north of 70.

[carbaugh2]

Closures happening this weekend. Seems like beams are getting installed for the flyover ramp.

https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/OHDOT/bulletins/398b6a9

[carbaugh2]

Thought I would share an update on my observations for the progress of Phase 1 (70 East/270 interchange). Here is what I have been able to see from my drives through the construction zone:

The steel beams for the 270 South to 70 East flyover ramp are all in place as of 9/30. Still a whole lot of work to make it a functional ramp.

The new 270 North to Brice Rd ramp appears to be complete.

Base paving has taken place to add the 3rd lane of 70 East from the 270 offramp to Brice Road.

There is still much to be completed, most importantly the braided ramp for 70 East to Brice Road and 270 North to 70 East. I'm still having difficulty visualizing exactly where it will be built because it doesn't look like any work has started on it yet. This project has been progressing much slower than the 161 widening through New Albany, which is supposed to have all travel lanes available for use before winter slows everything down.

[TempoNick]

Thought I would share an update on my observations for the progress of Phase 1 (70 East/270 interchange). Here is what I have been able to see from my drives through the construction zone:

The steel beams for the 270 South to 70 East flyover ramp are all in place as of 9/30. Still a whole lot of work to make it a functional ramp.

The new 270 North to Brice Rd ramp appears to be complete.

Base paving has taken place to add the 3rd lane of 70 East from the 270 offramp to Brice Road.

There is still much to be completed, most importantly the braided ramp for 70 East to Brice Road and 270 North to 70 East. I'm still having difficulty visualizing exactly where it will be built because it doesn't look like any work has started on it yet. This project has been progressing much slower than the 161 widening through New Albany, which is supposed to have all travel lanes available for use before winter slows everything down.

70/270 - are they thinking of adding a fourth Lane to to the East freeway and is this project being designed with that in mind? I've noticed a lot of congestion on the east freeway at all hours.

OH 161 - I'm very impressed with how quickly 161 is going. I'm guessing they must have been proactive when they built 161, designing it with a third lane in mind.

It's still amusing that they spent all that effort last year or two years ago to pour all that concrete for the cable dividers, just to rip it out a year later.

I-70 west of Downtown. I'm assuming they intend to add Lanes given the work that they did to that final bridge going westbound before you get to the I-670 overpass. Right now, that third lane would travel into a mound of dirt. Does anybody know what the timetable is for rebuilding that overpass?

[PColumbus73]

I guess this is more about I-270, but are there any plans to build a continuous express/local system for I-270 east of I-71? It seems like I-270 is headed in that direction anyway regardless of if there was a larger plan in place. With all the spot fixes they've done over the years, it would have been nice if they were a part of one cohesive plan for the beltway.

[Bitmapped]

I guess this is more about I-270, but are there any plans to build a continuous express/local system for I-270 east of I-71? It seems like I-270 is headed in that direction anyway regardless of if there was a larger plan in place. With all the spot fixes they've done over the years, it would have been nice if they were a part of one cohesive plan for the beltway.

Which part of I-270? North or south side?

[vtk]

I-70 west of Downtown. I'm assuming they intend to add Lanes given the work that they did to that final bridge going westbound before you get to the I-670 overpass. Right now, that third lane would travel into a mound of dirt. Does anybody know what the timetable is for rebuilding that overpass?

I'm not aware of any active plans to add a lane to I-70 there. The extra width on that westbound bridge over Harper Rd seems to be merely a side effect of having to keep 2 travel lanes open while the bridge was rebuilt, and I'm not sure why it was rebuilt at all while the eastbound bridge was left alone. It must have been hit by a truck, or failed an inspection, or something.

[PColumbus73]

I guess this is more about I-270, but are there any plans to build a continuous express/local system for I-270 east of I-71? It seems like I-270 is headed in that direction anyway regardless of if there was a larger plan in place. With all the spot fixes they've done over the years, it would have been nice if they were a part of one cohesive plan for the beltway.

Which part of I-270? North or south side?

I was thinking between US 33 and I-71 on the east side

[carbaugh2]

Rather than quote post, there are a couple of items to answer.

The 670/70 overpass keeps getting rehabbed due to getting hit by cars and trucks, most recently in 2023. It needs a new design, or at least a gentler curve radius for 70 westbound, but I can't see that happening until 70/71 is finished. Maybe 2040?

I am not aware of any plans to create a continuous express/local setup on the east side of 270. I know that the 33 interchange needs reworked, likely mirroring what ODOT did with 33's interchange near Dublin (waiting for ODOT to call it the Southeast Mega Fix). Frankly, I would like to see the express/local lanes shortened or go away completely at 70 and 40, at least going northbound. There isn't enough distance between the center merge and the 16/Broad St exit.

[carbaugh2]

Here are some updates:

Phase 1 of Project 1, the 70 East/270/Brice Rd interchanges, is nearing completion. The flyover is paved and final concrete barrier pours are taking place. I have been told by District 6 that the flyover ramp should be open by the end of summer with the rest of the project wrapping up soon after (end of year, I guess). After driving through the work zone on 70 East yesterday, I now know that there are not any braided ramps in this phase like the project page shows (https://www.transportation.ohio.gov/projects/projects/95639). To exit for Brice Road, a driver must exit for 270 North then take the Brice Rd exit off of that ramp to connect with the ramp from 270 North. I like that they simplified the design from the plan on the project page. Brice Road is currently covered over on the new overhead signs on 70 East.

Phase 2 of Project 2, the 70 West/270/Brice Rd interchanges, is now in full force, with most of the work focused on Brice Rd and the frontage road going to the apartments on the north side of 70. Brice Rd. over I-70 will be reduced to one lane in both directions with two left turn lanes for Brice Rd northbound to 70 West starting today and will be in place for 18-24 months. Crews are also finishing work to modify the 70 West to Brice Rd ramp, likely to provide space for the new auxillary lane on 70 West and exit ramp that will have a different shape. I have not heard anything on when crews will begin working on the braided ramps for the 70/270 interchange. The project page is https://www.transportation.ohio.gov/projects/projects/98232.

I have not heard or seen any updates on either Project 2, the 70/US 33/Petzinger Rd area, or Project 3, which is the Hamilton Rd interchange.

While no construction money has been allocated yet, Project 4 (the 70/256/Taylor Rd interchange) has received $8 million in right of way funding for this fiscal year, and District 5 has submitted a TRAC application (https://dam.assets.ohio.gov/image/upload/transportation.ohio.gov/trac/2025apps/D05_01_FAIRFIELD-LICKING70SR_256.pdf) for the construction funding in Fiscal Year 2027.

[carbaugh2]

The flyover ramp from I-270 South to I-70 East opens today. I will definitely give it a chance to reduce my commute time home on Monday.

News Release- https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/OHDOT/bulletins/3ed5a3d
B-Roll Photos and Drone Video- https://collection.cloudinary.com/stateofohio/831bf2873cfdd48c8be4916fa54595fa