US24 Ohio "Fort to Port" Notes

[Pilgrimway]

I was in Northwest Ohio last week, in the Defiance area, and saw some of the continued progress of the US-24 twinning project from Toledo to Fort Wayne, the so-called "Fort to Port Project".  I only saw a little of the work in the Defiance area due to lack to time, but US-24 is now 4-lane from Defiance to Napoleon.  There is a new interchange at OH-281 for Domersville Rd, which services the huge GM Foundry plant in Defiance, located on OH-18/281 on the east end of town.  There are several at-grade interchanges between Defiance and Napoleon but no traffic lights.  I think there is also a new interchange on the west side of Defiance for OH-424 but I didn't see that, nor did I get a look at the interchange of US-24 and US-127 near Antwerp. 

Most maps don't show US-24 as 4-lane from Defiance to Napoleon yet, not even the latest official Ohio map.  The OH-281 interchange also is not noted yet.

Exit numbers are also going up.

EXIT250 OH15, OH18, Defiance, Bryan
EXIT26-OH66, Defiance, Archbold (lots of services at this exit, plus a mall)
EXIT28- OH281 Domersville Rd
EXIT39- US6 WEST- Kendallsville.  This is the first Napoleon exit.  I remember the control city used to be Chicago on the BGS at this interchange.  Why is Bryan ignored here?

I didn't get the exit numbers for the other Napoleon bypass exits for OH108, Industrial Avenue, OH424 and US6 East.  Maybe next time.

I'm assuming US24 between Napoleon and Maumee is still two-lane.  Expanding this portion to 4 lanes will be quite a challenge due to development and its close proximity to the Maumee River.

[agentsteel53]

so long as they leave that 24 cutout up near the Michigan state line I'm happy...

[catofdar]

I can't remember, but wasn't there a plan to upgrade west of Fort Wayne all the way to the Champaign/Urbana area and extend I-72 along that?  Somehow I remember reading that somewhere....

[SSOWorld]

pretty ugly looking cutout

[Revive 755]

I can't remember, but wasn't there a plan to upgrade west of Fort Wayne all the way to the Champaign/Urbana area and extend I-72 along that?  Somehow I remember reading that somewhere....

According to the High Priority Corridor Guide (https://www.aaroads.com/high-priority/corr04.html), I-72 could extend along that route, but as of right now the route is only planned to expressway standards.  I certainly wouldn't mind such an extension since Indiana only posts four lane divided routes at 60 and it would also provide another route around Chicago.

[JREwing78]

A little late to this story, but the new freeway section of US 24 between Waterville and Napoleon is now open to traffic, completing the Fort to Port project from the Indiana state line to Toledo.

Expanded U.S. 24 open today after decades of struggle
http://www.toledoblade.com/local/2012/08/29/Expanded-U-S-24-read-to-open-today-after-decades-of-struggle.html

New U.S. 24 -- fort to port -- a 50-year labor of love
http://www.toledoblade.com/Opinion/2012/08/23/New-U-S-24-fort-to-port-a-50-year-labor-of-love.html

This one is a big deal personally; I have relatives near Findlay, and every trip down there involved crossing US 24 to continue following OH 109. With all the heavy traffic (particularly truck traffic), that was always a bit dicey.

[InterstateNG]

Is old 24 still maintained by ODOT and if so, how is it signed?  An extension of OH-424?

[dfilpus]

Old 24 is being turned over to local control. OH 424 is being turned over to local control, piece by piece.