The Ohio Department of Transportation next spring tentatively plans to start an estimated $66.5 million improvement project to nearly eight miles of roadway on Interstate 270.

The Ohio Department of Transportation next spring tentatively plans to start an estimated $66.5 million improvement project to nearly eight miles of roadway on Interstate 270.

Officials with ODOT and the city of Dublin say the project, which includes the addition of a fourth lane in northbound and southbound directions, would enhance traffic capacity in the area, which sees about 114,000 vehicles daily.

Nancy Burton, public-information officer for ODOT District 6, said the project would include pavement rehabilitation well below the driving surface along I-270 from just south of Trabue Road to the I-270U.S. Route 33 interchange.

The additional fourth lanes will be added in the roadway's median. Six bridges over Raymond Run, Hayden Run Road and Cramer Ditch will be widened to accommodate the new lane. Minor maintenance will be done on more bridges.

Highway lighting will be added in the median, and two noise walls will be built on the east side of the northbound lanes just south of Hayden Run Road and just south of Tuttle Crossing.

Burton said ODOT expects to see an increase of up to 144,000 vehicles daily in the project area over the next 20 years.

City Manager Dana McDaniel said the project is another phase of expansion of I-270's capacity between Dublin and Interstate 70 that ties into the I-270U.S. 33 interchange project.

"It's certainly going to enhance how traffic flows on and off that interchange," McDaniel said, calling the U.S. 33 corridor toward Marysville an "economic engine."

That interchange project is a $70 million endeavor planned to conclude between spring and summer next year. New ramps are estimated to open to traffic by winter of this year.

According to an Aug. 4 memo from McDaniel to Dublin City Council, the portion of the I-270 improvements within Dublin will be about $7.5 million of the estimated $66.5 million total cost.

Traffic impact

Burton said the tentative completion date is fall 2018. Specific lane restrictions for the project have not yet been identified, she said. Adding lanes to the interstate's median is expected to help reduce the impact to traffic.

However, the rehabilitation work to the existing road could cause lanes to be either restricted or closed.

ODOT will use the road's shoulder to maintain traffic. Some restrictions could also be limited to nights and weekends, when traffic volumes have decreased, she said.

ssole@thisweeknews.com

@ThisWeekSarah