Breese Road Closure Delayed to May 5; Hanthorn Road to Close Early May

Project Update

Interstate 75 Reconstruction -- Auglaize County line to Ohio 81
Lima, Allen County

April 24, 2014

Breese Road closure delayed to May 5; Hanthorn Road to close early May

(Note: Updates on the I-75 reconstruction project will now include information on both Project 2 and 3 as work has begun on the south end of the interstate. The project zone now extends from the Auglaize County line to just north of Ohio 81.)

Interstate 75

·  Construction of the noise walls between Ohio 117/309 and Reservoir Road both on the northbound and southbound sides is mostly complete. Traffic impacts related to this operation will continue in both directions but will be minimal.

·  Pavement repair both northbound and southbound between Fourth Street and the Auglaize County line will continue from midnight to noon each week day through next week. Traffic is restricted to one lane through the zone. The repairs will reinforce the existing pavement to help maintain its operational condition during construction.

·  Restrictions on I-75 northbound are expected to occur next week while concrete is trucked in and poured on the deck of a new bridge structure over the CF&E railroad. This operation will occur during both daytime and nighttime hours. Motorists are asked to be aware of trucks and equipment entering and exiting the work zone during this operation.

·  Motorists are asked to be aware of trucks entering and exiting the interstate throughout the work zone at various locations. Heed message boards and signs which indicate lane use, obey the posted speed and use caution when passing vehicles in the zone.

·  In the coming weeks, work will take place on Interstate 75 northbound in the area of the Ohio 65 interchange on construction of a temporary bridge structure over the railroad north of Ohio 65. The structure will allow for traffic to be maintained on I-75 during construction.

·  Traffic both northbound and southbound on Interstate 75 is now traveling on new concrete pavement from just south of Fourth Street to Reservoir Road and is then transitioned back to the existing pavement.

·  Motorists should be aware that all entrance and exit ramp merge areas have been shortened throughout the project area. Drivers on Interstate 75 are encouraged to use the passing lane through the zone if they do not wish to exit. Signs advising this have been placed throughout the project area.

·  Traffic cameras to view the construction area may be accessed at www.odotlima75.com, or at www.Ohgo.com.

·  Please drive slowly through the construction zone.

Ohio 81

·  The entrance ramp from Ohio 81 to Interstate 75 southbound closed March 31 for 60 days for reconstruction. Traffic is detoured north on Interstate 75 to the Bluelick Road interchange back to Interstate 75 southbound. All other ramp movements at the Ohio 81 interchange are maintained.

·  Work on reconstructing the service road on the south side of Ohio 81 continues.

·  Traffic both eastbound and westbound has been shifted onto the new concrete pavement from just west of Stewart Road to just west of Neubrecht Road. Traffic will remain one lane in each direction while work at the interchange continues.

Ohio 117/309 Interchange

·  Traffic on Ohio 117/309 in the area of the Interstate 75 interchange has been shifted to the south side of the roadway to allow pavement work to take place in the westbound lanes. Traffic continues to be one lane in each direction through the interchange area.

·  The Ohio 117/309 interchange is in full operation and all ramps are open.

Brynn Mawr Road

·  Brynn Mawr Road just north of Lost Creek Boulevard will be closed in early May for 45 days to allow for a culvert replacement.

Johnny Appleseed Bike Path

·  The Johnny Appleseed bike path in the area of the CF&E Railroad is currently open. During the week of April 28, traffic on the path will be maintained with flaggers while concrete is placed on the railroad bridge above.

Medical Drive

·  The most northern Medical Drive entrance to the Orthopedic Institute of Ohio (OIO) is closed. The Medical Drive entrance south of OIO and the Yoder Road entrance into OIO remains open.

Ohio 65

·  Traffic has been shifted to the east and lanes have been narrowed on Ohio 65 beneath Interstate 75 while work related to the installation of drainage components takes place. In the coming weeks, traffic will be switched onto temporary pavement in the area of the interchange to allow the existing pavement to be reconstructed.

Hanthorn Road

·  Hanthorn Road over Interstate 75 will close May 8 for reconstruction of the bridge. The bridge will remain closed until the fall of 2016.

Yoder Road

·  Yoder Road between Ohio 65 and the northbound entrance to Interstate 75 is scheduled to close April 28 for 120 days. The entrance ramp from Ohio 65 to northbound Interstate 75 will remain open at this time.

Breese Road Interchange

·  Breese Road over Interstate 75 will now close on May 5 for 150 days, with the northbound entrance and exit ramps closing 90 days later. Then 30 days following the closure of the northbound ramps, the southbound entrance and exit ramps will close.

·  The entire interchange will be closed for the last 30 days of the 150-day closure.

·  Closure of the bridge is dependent upon necessary coordination with the railroad.

About the I-75 Project Phases:

Project 2 will reconstruct the existing lanes of Interstate 75 from Fourth Street to just north of Ohio 81 in Lima. This phase also includes the reconstruction of the Fourth Street, Ohio 81 and Ohio 117/309 interchanges; a safety upgrade to Ohio 309 east of the Interstate 75 interchange; and the reconstruction and realignment of Ohio 81 from Neubrecht to Stewart Road. This phase is expected to be completed in 2015.

Project 1 of the Interstate 75 reconstruction project, which is the replacement of the Fourth Street and Reservoir Road bridges over Interstate 75 in Lima, was completed in the spring. Both structures were opened to traffic last fall. Project 3, from the Auglaize County line to Fourth Street, will begin in 2014. This phase also includes the reconstruction of the Breese Road and Ohio 65 interchanges as well as the replacement of the Hanthorn and McClain Road bridges over Interstate 75. The overall project is scheduled to be completed in 2016.

Project information may be found on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ODOTLima75; on Twitter, prefaced with #ODOTLima75, at https://twitter.com/#!/ODOT_NWOhio; and on the Web at www.odotlima75.org.

ODOT Contact Information

Scott Mullins, P.E., Area Engineer

419-999-6903;

Dan Kaseman, P.E., Planning and Engineering Administrator

419-999-6861;

Rhonda Pees, Public Information Officer

419-999-6803;

You are receiving this communication because you have either requested to be added to our distribution list, or have been identified by us as an entity which will be affected by the I-75 reconstruction project. Those on this distribution list will be provided project updates as they are issued during all phases of the project. If you wish to be removed from our list, please contact Rhonda Pees, public information officer, at

Thank you.

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