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

[thenetwork]

Which alignment do you all believe would work the best? Not knowing the area, I don't have a preference.

Unless I missed it, will this still be owned and operated/tolled by the Ohio Turnpike folks?

[carbaugh2]

I didn't realize this because I was figuring out the changes at my own agency, but ODOT was able to get the original legislative mandate from the transportation budget updated in the general revenues budget last June. From the Ohio Legislative Service Commission's analysis (https://www.lsc.ohio.gov/assets/legislation/136/hb96/en0/files/hb96-dot-bill-analysis-as-enacted-136th-general-assembly.pdf), here were the changes made:

The act modifies the requirement, enacted earlier in 2025, that ODOT and the Ohio
Turnpike and Infrastructure Commission (OTIC) create a joint plan regarding the feasibility of
connecting U.S. Route 23 and I-71. The modifications to the plan include all the following:
▪ Splitting the plan into two components, an interim report and a final joint plan;
▪ Specifying that the interim report must conceptually identify and evaluate the corridor alternatives and alignments;
▪ Authorizing ODOT and OTIC to consider alignments that were not part of the original specific list;
▪ Making the interim report due October 1, 2025, rather than the full plan due by September 30, 2025;
▪ Requiring the final joint plan to identify a preferred route for the connecting corridor, include all preliminary engineering assessments (design, cost estimates, right-of-way, and environmental impacts, etc.), and recommend whether final implementation should be through ODOT or OTIC; and
▪ Extending the deadline for the final joint plan to October 1, 2026.

Unless I missed it, will this still be owned and operated/tolled by the Ohio Turnpike folks?

The preliminary study showed that while tolls could cover the operation and maintenance of the freeway, they would not come close to covering the construction costs. The other big drawback that I noted in the interim report was that using toll revenue would greatly slow down the timeline due to ODOT not being able to use what it calls a "quick take" process for acquiring right of way. That being said, there has not been a final answer for this question. The conclusion of this study states that a draft preferred alternative will be released in July and that it will be studied for the feasibility of construction and operation using toll revenue.

[carbaugh2]

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

As of now it is scheduled to be let on 12/17/2026.

Another freeway conversion project, this one for SR 15, is scheduled to be let on 6/25/26. It will construct cul-de-sacs on TR 190 at its intersection with SR 15 just west of Vanlue. The estimated cost is $300,000.

[Henry]

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

As of now it is scheduled to be let on 12/17/2026.

Another freeway conversion project, this one for SR 15, is scheduled to be let on 6/25/26. It will construct cul-de-sacs on TR 190 at its intersection with SR 15 just west of Vanlue. The estimated cost is $300,000.

At least that's progress being made, even though there'll likely be no I-73 to come through the state.

[vtk]

"Breaking the Blockage": Development is Planned for US-23 Corridor Or Should We Call it I-73



https://www.sciotopost.com/breaking-the-blockage-development-is-planned-for-us-23-corridor-or-should-we-call-it-i-73/

Very much a local-first perspective, which then broadens to talk about I-73 as if it didn't lose momentum 20 years ago. And that picture is kind of a mess; AI image generation is getting freakishly good at looking technically correct in details while still not making a lot of sense overall.

[The Ghostbuster]

If Interstate 73 ever comes to Ohio, it will probably be after all of our lifetimes.

[carbaugh2]

I think this Columbus Dispatch article (reposted at https://bluewaterhealthyliving.com/news/national-news/ohio/many-nw-ohioans-want-u-s-23-i-71-connector-north-central-ohioans-oppose-it/) pretty well sums up the situation. Residents and businesses in NW Ohio want the direct connection with a consistent drive time to Columbus while those in the immediate vicinity of the connector want nothing to do with it. I wholly understand the conundrum expressed by the mayor of Ashley: "'If it's done right and it takes a lot of truck traffic that right now passes through the village on State Road 229 between 71 and 23, that's a benefit to the village separate from all the turmoil for the real landowners that are impacted by it."

[vtk]

They do their open house meetings in the farm towns where everybody is opposed, but everyone who would benefit is spread out over a long swath of Ohio to the south and to the north/northwest. It's hard to present a fair representation of both sides in the media and in the DOT's public outreach.

[thenetwork]

How many exits are they proposing on the freeway/Tollway between US-23 and I-71?

I would think only having one or two exits between the two routes being the least intrusive to the surrounding Morrow County area?

[carbaugh2]

How many exits are they proposing on the freeway/Tollway between US-23 and I-71?

I would think only having one or two exits between the two routes being the least intrusive to the surrounding Morrow County area?

According to the latest report, the only planned exit is at US 42.

[I-55]

They do their open house meetings in the farm towns where everybody is opposed, but everyone who would benefit is spread out over a long swath of Ohio to the south and to the north/northwest. It's hard to present a fair representation of both sides in the media and in the DOT's public outreach.

Yeah in my experience at public hearings, the 20 or so property owners all vehemently complain about the project, but we never hear from any of the tens of thousands of drivers and passengers that travel the road on a daily basis. Really easy to skew perception when those are the only voices you hear.

[carbaugh2]

Another freeway conversion project, this one for SR 15, is scheduled to be let on 6/25/26. It will construct cul-de-sacs on TR 190 at its intersection with SR 15 just west of Vanlue. The estimated cost is $300,000.

It turns out that this intersection has already been closed.

https://www.transportation.ohio.gov/about-us/news/district-1/hancock-county-the-intersection-at-state-route-15-and-township-road-190-to-permanently-close