Project Update

Interstate 75 Reconstruction --Project 2, Allen County
Fourth Street to Ohio 81

  • Ohio 117/309 Safety Upgrade
  • Ohio 81 Reconstruction and Alignment

August 14, 2013

ODOT and fairgrounds prepare traffic plan for the fair

Allen County Fair

  • Access to the Allen County Fair on August 16-24 is maintained from Interstate 75, Ohio 117 and Ohio 309.
  • Electronic message boards will be placed along Interstate 75 to guide fair traffic to the appropriate exits. Northbound traffic on Interstate 75 should use exit 124 (Fourth Street) which is scheduled to re-open northbound on August 16, southbound traffic on Interstate 75 can use exit 125 (Ohio 117/309) or exit 122 (Ohio 65). Exit 124 southbound will remain closed throughout the fair.
  • There will be no access to Interstate 75 from Fourth Street during the fair. Use Ohio 65 or Ohio 117/309 to access Interstate 75 from the fairgrounds.
  • Signs have been placed throughout the area to guide traffic to and from the fairgrounds.

Interstate 75

  • All entrance and exit ramps at the Fourth Street interchange with Interstate 75 are now closed as of Monday, July 15. The southbound entrance and exit ramps closed Monday, July 15 for 60 days for reconstruction. The northbound exit ramp will re-open on Friday, August 16th, the northbound entrance ramp will remain closed for approximately two more weeks. Traffic is detoured to the Ohio 65 interchange then north on Ohio 65 (St. Johns Road) to Fourth Street. Electronic message boards have been placed on Interstate 75 advising motorists to use Ohio 65.
  • Paving of the new concrete lanes of Interstate 75 is ongoing. This work will take place outside of the current lanes of travel but use caution as trucks are entering and exiting Interstate 75 in the workzone.
  • Occasional nighttime lane closures will continue on Interstate 75 throughout the zone from Fourth Street to Ohio 81 generally from 7 p.m. until approximately 10 a.m. the following day. Normal traffic patterns of two lanes in each direction will resume during daytime hours.
  • 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 or at
  • Please drive slowly through the construction zone.

Ohio 117/309

  • Traffic has been switched from the south side of roadway to the north and is two lanes in each direction without a center turn lane. Only two lanes of traffic will be maintained, one lane in each direction, from Willard Avenue (Speedway) to the west of the Interstate 75 interchange.
  • Work to install drainage components continues on the south side of Ohio 309 between Willard Avenue (Speedway) and Lost Creek Boulevard (Walgreens). Beginning Wednesday, August 14th crews will begin working at night, generally between 8:00pm and 9:00am to minimize the impact to the businesses and to better accommodate the increased traffic from the Allen County Fair. Business drives on Ohio 309 are expected to be open during business hours.

Ohio 81

  • All traffic on Ohio 81 from just west of Stewart Road to just west of Neubrecht Road is maintained one lane in each direction in the existing eastbound lanes.
  • The ramp from northbound Interstate 75 to eastbound Ohio 81 (exit 127 A) is closed; however, access to eastbound Ohio 81 is maintained by using the existing loop ramp on the northeast side of the interchange. A temporary signal is controlling ramp traffic.
  • The change in traffic pattern on Ohio 81 will remain in place throughout the summer.

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 on Twitter, prefaced with #ODOTLima75, at and on the Web at

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.