(WJW) – Spring is just days away and that means it’s orange barrel season in the Buckeye State.
This year’s winter was one of the least snowy in Ohio’s history and that meant big savings for the Ohio Department of Transportation.
State plow drivers have driven 36% fewer miles so far this year, compared to 2022. They’ve also used 40% less salt, which can be saved and used for the future.
The mild winter also gives road crews a jump start on spring projects, like filling potholes.
On Wednesday, March 15, ODOT officially kicked off its 2023 construction season.
According to state officials, the season will include a record investment of $2.5 billion in infrastructure across the state. This includes work on more than 800 bridges and 5,700 miles of pavement.
The state held a press conference on Wednesday highlighting some of the largest projects.
Projects highlights, include:
- Cuyahoga County: I-77 and Miller Rd. interchange improvements in the city of Brecksville. Start November 2022, end November 2024. Cost $36.3 million.
- Lake County: Pavement replacement on U.S. 20 between SR 2 and SR 528 in Perry and Madison townships. Start fall 2023, end fall 2028. Cost $66.2 million.
- Lorain County: Construct two single lane roundabouts on the west leg of the SR 83/SR 303 intersection in Grafton Township. Start December 2022, end June 2023. Cost $4 million.
- Medina County: Widen and reconstructed SR 18 from just west of Alber Dr. to Nettleton Rd. in the city of Medina, and Medina and Montville townships. Start April 2021, end June 2024. Cost $22.8 million.
- Summit County: Widening of I-77 between Everett Rd. and SR 21 in Bath and Richfield townships. Start September 2023, end July 2026. Cost $68.8 million
- Summit County: Akron Beltway Reconstruction, pavement replacement and addition of lanes on I-77 from just north of I-277/U.S. 224 to Lovers Lane, pavement replacement on I-76/I-77 from Princeton Ave. to the I-77/SR 261 interchange and pavement replacement on the I-76, I-77 and SR 8 at the Central Interchange in the city of Akron. Start June 2021, end July 2025. Cost $161 million.
- Summit County: SR 8 hi-level bridge replacement over the Cuyahoga River Valley with two new structures in the city of Akron. Start July 2023, end June 2028. Cost $154.6 million.
- Stark County: Resurfacing on I-77 and U.S. 30 resurfacing and bridge replacement. Start September 2019, end May 2024. Cost $56.2 million.
- Wayne County: Pavement removal and replacement on SR 83 between U.S. 30 and Milltown Rd. in the city of Wooster. Start March 2022, end October 2023. Cost $30.6 million.
You can learn more about the projects in your area in the videos below. You can also read more about the projects, here.
Here are the projects coming to Cuyahoga, Lake, and Geauga Counties:
Here are the projects coming to Ashtabula, Mahoning, Trumbull, Portage, Stark, and Summit Counties:
Here are the projects ODOT has planned for Ashland, Crawford, Erie, Huron, Lorain, Richland, Medina, and Wayne Counties:
The Ohio Department of Transportation also emphasized Ohio’s Move Over Law which requires drivers approaching any vehicles with flashing or rotating lights on the side of the road to move over to an adjacent lane.
