Interstate 280 Ohio

Interstate 280 Ohio

Overview

Interstate 280 stems north from I-80/90 (Ohio Turnpike) and Ohio State Route 420 north from Leymoyne to the cities of Northwood, Oregon and Toledo in northwestern Ohio. Interstate 280 travels over the Maumee River across the Veterans’ Glass City Skyway, a cable stay bridge that opened to traffic on June 24, 2007. The towers supporting the 1.6 mile long span top out at 403 feet.1,2

History

Originally part of the Toledo-Detroit Expressway which opened in 1956, Interstate 280 was fully completed as a freeway and designated by 1966.

Construction on the Veterans’ Glass City Skyway began in April 1999. With costs of $220 million, the span represented the most expensive bridge project in Ohio history. Unfortunately, five lives were lost during construction activities as well. Project work also expanded Interstate 280 between SR 2 (Navarre Avenue) and I-75 from four to six lanes.3 Monotube sign assemblies were installed in place of the more typical truss sign bridges as of September 2002.4

Opened to traffic on June 24, 2007, the Veterans’ Glass City Skyway crosses the Maumee River with a 130 foot high bridge deck. The span accommodates six lanes of traffic plus full shoulders. The adjacent Craig Memorial Bridge, a drawbridge that previously carried Interstate 280 over the Maumee River, remains in use for local traffic.1,2

Route Information

  • North End – Toledo, OH

  • South End – LeMoyne, OH

  • Mileage – 12.41

  • Cities – Northwood, Oregon, Toledo

  • Junctions – I-80 I-90 Ohio Tpk I-75

Source: December 31, 2021 Interstate Route Log and Finders List

I-280 Annual Average Daily Traffic (AADT)

Source: 2017/18 AADT – ODOT Transportation Data Management System

 Photo Guides

North End I-75 – Toledo, Ohio

I-280 North at I-75

I-280 north at I-75 - 2002

Interstate 280 ends at I-75 three miles south of the Michigan state line in Toledo. This sign bridge was removed by September 2002 due to the widening of the adjacent SR 25 overpass.4 Photo by Adam Prince and Jeff Kitsko (06/08/02).

I-280 north at I-75 - Toledo, OH

Monotubes were added along I-280 north leading into the exchange with Interstate 75 during September 2002 reconstruction. 11/07/09

I-280 north at I-75 - Toledo, OH

Exit 12 departs Interstate 280 north for Manhattan Boulevard just ahead of the ramp separation for I-75 north to Detroit and south to Downtown Toledo. 11/07/09

I-280 north at I-75 - Toledo, OH

Entering the directional T interchange with Interstate 75 on I-280 north. Detroit lies 47 miles to the north. Photo by Carter Buchanan (11/13/04).

I-75 North at I-280

I-75 north at I-280 - Toledo, OH

Exit 207 leaves I-75 north for Stickney Avenue and Lagrange Street one mile ahead of Interstate 280. Photo by Eric Stuve (03/08/19).

I-75 north at I-280 - Toledo, OH

I-75 was expanded from four to six lanes east to Interstate 280 at Exit 208 during 2015/16. I-280 leads travelers south from Toledo to the Ohio Turnpike east for Cleveland. Photo by Eric Stuve (03/08/19).

I-75 north at I-280 - Toledo, OH

I-75 north reaches Exit 208 for I-280 south to Oregon, Northwood and I-80/90 (Ohio Turnpike) to Cleveland. Much of the industry along the Maumee River and Lake Erie is consolidated near this exchange. Photo by Eric Stuve (03/08/19).

I-75 South at I-280

I-75 south at I-280 - Toledo, OH

I-75 heads south from the Ottawa River to meet I-280 at Exit 208. I-280 connects to SR 25, which provides most connections in Downtown Toledo. Photo by Eric Stuve (03/09/19).

I-75 south at I-280 - Toledo, OH

Interstate 280 serves the eastern suburbs of Oregon and Northwood, before accessing the Ohio Turnpike (I-80/90). Photo by Eric Stuve (03/09/19).

I-75 south at I-280 - Toledo, OH

Construction in 2016/17 reconfigured the directional T interchange with I-280 to eliminate left side ramps. Photo by Eric Stuve (03/09/19).

I-75 south at I-280 - Toledo, OH

Exit 208 partitions for I-280 south and the ensuing off-ramp to Lagrange Street. The urban loop crosses the Maumee River over the Veterans’ Glass City Skyway in two miles. Photo by Eric Stuve (03/09/19).

I-475 North End Throwback

I-75 South at I-280

I-75 south at I-280 - 2002

Interstate 280 south from I-75 south previously began at a left exit ramp. Photo by Don Hargraves (08/02).

I-75 south at I-280 - 2002

Guide signs partitioned traffic headed to the Ohio Turnpike onto I-75 south for points west and I-280 south for points east. Photo by Don Hargraves (08/02).

I-75 south at I-280 - 2002

I-280 connects with Manhattan Boulevard from within the exchange at Exit 208. Photo by Don Hargraves (08/02).

South End I-80 I-90 Ohio Tpk Ohio 420 – Lemoyne, Ohio

I-280 South at SR 420 I-80 I-90 Ohio Tpk

I-280 south at I-80/90/Ohio Tpk - Lake Twp

An array of traveler services line I-280 at forthcoming Exit 1 B with Bahnsen Road. The trumpet interchange (Exit 1 A) with the Ohio Turnpike access road follows. 09/02/05

I-280 south at I-80/90/Ohio Tpk - Lake Twp

Freeway end signs precede the diamond interchange (Exit 1 B) with Bahnsen Road. Photo by Sean Lyons (12/02).

I-280 south at I-80/90/Ohio Tpk - Lake Twp

I-80/90 follow the Ohio Turnpike west to the Indiana Toll Road and east to the city of Elyria. I-90 branches north from there into Cleveland while I-80 proceeds east toward Youngstown. 09/02/05

I-280 south at I-80/90/Ohio Tpk - Lake Twp

I-280 continues a quarter mile south the Ohio Turnpike entrance ramp. SR 420 extends 2.25 miles south from Exit 1 A as an expressway to U.S. 20/23 at Lemoyne. 09/02/05

I-280 south at I-80/90/Ohio Tpk - Lake Twp

Southbound I-280 ends and SR 420 begins below the Ohio Turnpike mainline. 09/02/05

I-280 south at I-80/90/Ohio Tpk - Lake Twp

Ramps for I-80/90 separate after the Ohio Turnpike toll plaza for Chicago, Illinois and Cleveland. 09/02/05

I-80 I-90 Ohio Tpk West at I-280 SR 420

I-80/90/Ohio Tpk west at I-280/SR 420 - Troy Twp

Two miles ahead of the trumpet interchange (Exit 71) for I-280 north and SR 420 south on the Ohio Turnpike westbound. 09/02/05

I-80/90/Ohio Tpk west at I-280/SR 420 - Troy Twp

The Ohio Turnpike crosses over SR 163 one mile ahead of Exit 71. SR 420 south links I-80/90 with SR 163 west to U.S. 20/23 at Stony Ridge. Photo by Steve Hanudel (08/06/05).

I-80/90/Ohio Tpk west at I-280/SR 420 - Troy Twp

Exit 71 leaves I-80/90 west for I-280 north to Toledo and SR 420 south to U.S. 20 and Lemoyne. Photo by Steve Hanudel (08/06/05).

SR 420 North at I-280 I-80 I-90 Ohio Tpk

SR 420 north at I-80/90/Ohio Tpk and I-280 - Lemoyne

SR 420 north transitions into Interstate 280 at the trumpet interchange (Exit 1 A) and access road to the Ohio Turnpike. Photo by Sean Lyons (12/02).

Sources:

  1. Veterans’ Glass City Skyway. http://www.lookuptoledo.org Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT), project web site.
  2. “I-280 span in Toledo to open this weekend.” Detroit Free Press (MI), June 23, 2007
  3. “Light show planned for overnight Saturday at new I-280 bridge: Pylon lighting will follow daytime festivities.” Toledo Blade (OH), June 20, 2007
  4. Garnell, Dan. Personal email, November 11, 2002.

Page updated July 3, 2022.