Ohio Turnpike Turns 70!

[thenetwork]

As of October 1st, the Ohio Turnpike celebrates their 70th Anniversary of providing full interstate access between Indiana and Pennsylvania. 

Technically, the turnpike started as a short, completed stretch around Youngstown in 1954 to provide a direct connection to the Penna Turnpike. 

The remainder of the turnpike was officially opened at the stroke of midnight on October 1st.

Here is a story on the turnpike's life over the last 70 years, from the Cleveland Plain Dealer:

https://www.cleveland.com/news/2025/09/70-years-in-the-fast-lane-how-ohio-turnpike-changed-travel-forever.html

[The Ghostbuster]

I'm sure if the Interstate System wasn't established, more Ohio Turnpike segments would have been constructed.

[Hot Rod Hootenanny]

I'm sure if the Interstate System wasn't established, more Ohio Turnpike segments would have been constructed.

If water was wet....

[JREwing78]

I found it interesting that the Blizzard of 1978 was the only time the Turnpike was officially closed. Suffice it to say there's been plenty of other occasions it *should* have closed. 

I want to say it was about Christmas 2003 or 2004 where Cleveland got slammed with over a foot of snow overnight. I had to drive west to Michigan the following morning, and I was plowing the road with my front bumper for much of the trip back. The Turnpike was down to one semi-open lane each way, and the median and shoulders had spinouts and wrecks stretching until at least Fremont. I was *so* thankful I had my snow tires on. 

[zzcarp]

I found it interesting that the Blizzard of 1978 was the only time the Turnpike was officially closed. Suffice it to say there's been plenty of other occasions it *should* have closed.

I want to say it was about Christmas 2003 or 2004 where Cleveland got slammed with over a foot of snow overnight. I had to drive west to Michigan the following morning, and I was plowing the road with my front bumper for much of the trip back. The Turnpike was down to one semi-open lane each way, and the median and shoulders had spinouts and wrecks stretching until at least Fremont. I was *so* thankful I had my snow tires on.

I'm pretty sure that it was Christmas 2005-I lived in Wakeman then and had to shovel 2+ feet of snow that year, then head to Fremont on the TP to my then in-law's place.

Also, the polar vortex just before Christmas 2022 should have closed it as well. I drove it a day early to get to Cleveland, and I remember that channel 3 news said that the TP was closed and showed footage of it all gummed up.

On a personal note, the blizzard of 1978 delayed my adopted parents from being able to take me home from the foster home. Obviously I don't remember it, but it was definitely part of my parents' blizzard story all through my childhood.

[thenetwork]

I found it interesting that the Blizzard of 1978 was the only time the Turnpike was officially closed. Suffice it to say there's been plenty of other occasions it *should* have closed.

I want to say it was about Christmas 2003 or 2004 where Cleveland got slammed with over a foot of snow overnight. I had to drive west to Michigan the following morning, and I was plowing the road with my front bumper for much of the trip back. The Turnpike was down to one semi-open lane each way, and the median and shoulders had spinouts and wrecks stretching until at least Fremont. I was *so* thankful I had my snow tires on.

I'm pretty sure that it was Christmas 2005-I lived in Wakeman then and had to shovel 2+ feet of snow that year, then head to Fremont on the TP to my then in-law's place.

Also, the polar vortex just before Christmas 2022 should have closed it as well. I drove it a day early to get to Cleveland, and I remember that channel 3 news said that the TP was closed and showed footage of it all gummed up.

On a personal note, the blizzard of 1978 delayed my adopted parents from being able to take me home from the foster home. Obviously I don't remember it, but it was definitely part of my parents' blizzard story all through my childhood.

There were times when long sections of the Turnpike were closed due to weather, but not all at once, except for 1978.

I remember driving past the Maumee exit on US-20 one winter night back in the 80s and seeing a string of red lights abobe and across the whole toll plaza. It was a bit surreal looking.

[JREwing78]

I found it interesting that the Blizzard of 1978 was the only time the Turnpike was officially closed. Suffice it to say there's been plenty of other occasions it *should* have closed.

I want to say it was about Christmas 2003 or 2004 where Cleveland got slammed with over a foot of snow overnight. I had to drive west to Michigan the following morning, and I was plowing the road with my front bumper for much of the trip back. The Turnpike was down to one semi-open lane each way, and the median and shoulders had spinouts and wrecks stretching until at least Fremont. I was *so* thankful I had my snow tires on.

I'm pretty sure that it was Christmas 2005-I lived in Wakeman then and had to shovel 2+ feet of snow that year, then head to Fremont on the TP to my then in-law's place.

That's probably correct, now that I think about it. I don't think we were paying much attention to the weather reports; I remember that storm taking us by surprise. 

[The Ghostbuster]

The most interesting thing I find about the Ohio Turnpike, is that while the other roads converted their exit numbers from sequential-to-milage-based in the 1970s, the Ohio Turnpike's exit numbers stayed sequential until 1998. Does anyone know why it didn't convert in the 1970s with the rest of the state?

[zzcarp]

The most interesting thing I find about the Ohio Turnpike, is that while the other roads converted their exit numbers from sequential-to-milage-based in the 1970s, the Ohio Turnpike's exit numbers stayed sequential until 1998. Does anyone know why it didn't convert in the 1970s with the rest of the state?

Not a really interesting reason: the Turnpike was completely separate from ODOT back in those days and did its own thing. I believe they changed to mileage-based once they opened so many "A"-suffixed exits and even at least one "B"-suffixed exit. These were miles apart from each other and becoming confusing, hence the change.