ODOT Improves Safety on State Route 309 In Marion

State Route 309 Bridge Opens Thursday

ODOT Director Jack Marchbanks, ODOT District 6 Deputy Director Mitch Blackford and others cut the ribbon to open SR 309 in Marion

MARION - The Ohio Department of Transportation held a ceremonial ribbon cutting this afternoon atop the new SR 309 bridge in Marion. The bridge will now take traffic over the Marion Industrial Center, rather than intersecting with railroad tracks as it was before. The bridge will open to traffic Thursday morning. 

“The Marion area is growing and the completion of this project certainly reflects that growth," said ODOT Director Jack Marchbanks. "The bridge provides the necessary accommodation for people’s everyday life activities and keeps their families safe as well."

Construction took just over a year to complete and cost about $6.3 million. Prior to the construction of this bridge, trains entering the Industrial Center would block traffic on SR 309 several times per day. This caused a major safety concern for residents in Marion who were trying to access recreational facilities like the Marion Senior Center and youth baseball fields on the opposite side. Children would even crawl through train cars to get to their games. 

"ODOT's number one priority has always been safety and the opening of this bridge protects our motorists and keeps Marion moving," said ODOT District 6 Deputy Director Mitch Blackford. 

While improving safety for the community, the bridge also improved freight efficiency and commerce by allowing vehicles to travel over the tracks, rather than wait for the train. 

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Editor's Note: B-roll and interviews from today's event can be found here.