News  Release

OHIO DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

DIVISION OF COMMUNICATIONS - 1980 W. Broad Street, Columbus, Ohio 43223

http://www.dot.state.oh.us

ODOT urges Extra Care and Planning to prevent High Accident Rate this Thanksgiving

ODOT Thanksgiving Holiday Traffic Advisory 

COLUMBUS (November 25, 2008) – Concerned by the high number of automobile accidents that occurred during the five-day Thanksgiving holiday period last year, the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) is urging drivers to take extra care and to plan their trips before visiting family and friends this season. 

ODOT’s safety analysis for 2007 showed 3,685 auto accidents occurred across the state from the Wednesday before Thanksgiving through Sunday evening. Seventeen people were killed and 1,180 injured in those crashes last year.  

To help motorists plan their trips and avoid potential difficulties before hitting the road, ODOT’s premiere website BuckeyeTraffic.org provides up-to-the-minute highway information on weather and road conditions, road closures, Highway Patrol accident updates and traffic congestion alerts; all available 24-hours a day, seven days a week. 

ODOT reminds motorists that winter weather can arrive at any time and they need to practice safe driving skills: share the road responsibly, respect snowplows on the highways, and remember, in Ice and Snow… Take it Slow. 

Below are highlights of some projects that could impact the largest number of travelers this holiday weekend: 

International Gateway/Stelzer Road, Franklin County (Central Ohio)

Interchange construction at the intersection of International Gateway and Stelzer Rd. at Port Columbus International Airport. Access to the airport may be affected, as traffic has been shifted to temporary roads with two lanes in each direction maintained on International Gateway and one lane maintained in each direction on Stelzer Rd. Completion date: fall 2009. 

Interstate 75, Montgomery County (Western Ohio)

Phase 1A of the modernization of I-75 through downtown Dayton, from Stanley Ave. southbound to Main St. The speed limit through the work zone is 45 mph, and there are lane restrictions throughout the project. The following exits are closed until summer 2009: SR 4 southbound to I-75 southbound, and I-75 southbound to Webster St. Completion date: October 2011. 

Interstate 80, Mahoning County (Northeastern Ohio)

Project includes the widening the roadway and construction of new twin bridges over the Meander Reservoir on I-80, between the Ohio Turnpike and the SR 11 interchange. Two lanes of traffic are maintained in each direction. Completion date: October 2009. 

Interstate 271, Summit County (Northeastern Ohio)

I-271 over SR 8 is reduced to one through lane and one exit-only lane in each direction as part of the SR 8/I-271 reconstruction project. Completion date: summer 2010. 

For more information, contact Paula Putnam, District 4 Public Information officer at (330) 786-2209

or Ron Poole, ODOT Central Office Communications, at (614) 644-8650.