ODOT completes successful year in 2020

Ohio Department of Transportation sent this bulletin at 02/11/2021 08:37 AM EST

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Contact: ODOT District 2's public information office
(419) 373-4428; D02.PIO@dot.ohio.gov

ODOT completes successful year in 2020

Northwest Ohio highway, bridge projects in good standing to begin 2021

The completion of the expansion and reconstruction of Interstate 75 through Findlay and Hancock County marks a significant accomplishment in transportation history for northwest Ohio. The project finished in 2020.

BOWLING GREEN, Ohio - (Thursday, Feb. 11, 2021) The Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) moves into this construction season in good standing, having accomplished its intended construction and maintenance program in 2020, even during a year where a pandemic presented more of a challenge than weather.

Progress on major interstate projects, construction of signature bridges, and completion of significant maintenance projects headline the 2020 accomplishments for ODOT in northwest Ohio.

Here’s a summary of the most notable within the 16-county region:

Major progress on interstate projects

It’s a historic time for highway construction in northwest Ohio. The transformation of Interstate 75 continues, along with major projects on Interstate 475 and Interstate 280 in Toledo. “It’s unusual that all three major interstate corridors in the Toledo area are undergoing significant construction work at the same time,” said Pat McColley, ODOT District 2 deputy director.

I-75 in Hancock, Wood and Lucas counties

Through Hancock County and the city of Findlay, a $115 million project on I-75 was completed in 2020 (view a video of Chris Hughes, ODOT District 1 deputy director, regarding the project; view drone footage of the project from October 2020).

In Wood and Lucas counties, two abutting projects between Buck Road and Dorr Street continue and saw good progress in 2020. The $343 million project began in late 2018 and is on schedule for completion in 2023 (view a gallery of video of I-75 construction in Toledo; visit the project website).

I-475, Lucas County

A project on I-475/U.S. 23 and Dorr Street on Toledo’s west side began in November 2019 and is approximately two months ahead of schedule. It is on pace for completion in late 2021 (view video of Dan Kelsey, ODOT project engineer; visit the project website).

I-280, Lucas County

The Veterans’ Glass City Skyway bridge resurfacing along I-280 on Toledo’s east side over the Maumee River is about halfway complete with a concrete overlay, and is on schedule to finish in late 2021.

A year of bridges

ODOT began, continued, or completed the construction of several bridges in 2020, including a few that serve as the signature structure in the heart of communities. “ODOT keeps an intense focus on bridges. We diligently inspect our bridges, maintain them regularly, and replace when necessary,” said Chris Hughes, ODOT District 1 deputy director. Here are the most notable from 2020:

State Route 64, Waterville, Lucas and Wood counties, officially opened in January of 2020 and was completed later in the year.

State Route 15/18/66 (Clinton Street), Defiance (view video of Bashar Kanouh, ODOT area engineer).
State Route 51, Elmore, Ottawa County (view video of Cindy Butler, ODOT project engineer).
Industrial Drive, Napoleon, Henry County (video of Tim Moody, ODOT District 2 construction; visit the project website).
State Route 2/Anthony Wayne (High Level) bridge, Toledo, Lucas County (view video of Dave Geckle, ODOT Bridge Engineer; visit the project website).

The I-75 Michael DiSalle bridge, Toledo, Lucas and Wood counties. The concrete for the southbound lanes was placed late in 2020.

In addition to bridges which are constructed or replaced as part of larger projects, ODOT in northwest Ohio spends approximately $18 million per year to preserve its 1,796 bridge structures.

Maintaining the best pavements in the state, year to year

Northwest Ohio’s highway pavements are consistently rated among the best in the state. Regular maintenance practices, such as chip seal and full-depth repair, keep pavements in good condition and save more costly repairs. Here are notable stats of work performed by ODOT’s own maintenance crews in 2020:

Chip sealed 227 lane miles of highways.
Used 18,650 tons of asphalt to perform full-depth pavement repairs, up 10% over the annual average (view video of Rod Nuveman, District 1 highway management administrator).