ODOT's Launching the SR 18 Safety Corridor in Medina County

The Ohio Department of Transportation is launching its next step in improving safety along State Route 18 in Medina County. District 3’s first Safety Corridor will span from Windfall Road to Medina Line Road and will go into effect beginning October 22, 2018. 

From 2008-2017, there were more than 683 crashes, including 8 fatal crashes that claimed 10 lives, along this 5-mile stretch of roadway. Unfortunately, the number of crashes along this corridor has increased every year since 2010.

Nearly half of all the crashes in the corridor were due to motorists following too closely. Failure to yield and unsafe speed were other top crash-causing factors.

“Safety is the top priority at ODOT. We are constantly looking for ways to make our roads as safe as possible. However, engineering can only take us so far. Driver behavior is a key factor. We need you to slow down, obey traffic signs and lights, and drop distractions,” said District 3 Deputy Director, Howard Huebner.

In 2016, ODOT began implementing a number of short-term countermeasures in an effort to reduce crashes along this corridor. This included the installation of four speed limit feedback signs, installation of edge line and centerline rumble stripes, wider pavement markings, and increased delineation at intersections. Long-term improvements will include: signal upgrades, added lighting at six intersections, and right turn lanes at three intersections. These improvements will be constructed in 2021.

“The Medina County Sheriff’s Office is appreciative of the work done by the Ohio Department of Transportation to make the State Route 18 corridor safer,” said Medina Count Sheriff, Tom Miller. “The three E’s of highway safety are education, engineering and enforcement. We intend to do our part to encourage safety through education and enforcement. Together we can save lives.”

“Troopers will be looking for traffic violations that cause many of the crashes in this area,” said Lieutenant Mark Neff, Ohio State Highway Patrol Medina Post Commander. “Roadway safety is a shared responsibility. Everyone can contribute to safer roads by following traffic laws, always wearing seatbelts and never driving while impaired.”

This safety corridor will be clearly marked with new signage alerting motorists when they enter and exit the corridor.