ODOT: Cost Saving Bridge Work in Franklin County Nears Completion
Temporary Lane Restrictions on Hilliard-Rome Road and Ramp Closure Planned

COLUMBUS (Friday, October 30, 2009) – The Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) District 6 says improvements to the bridges at the Hilliard-Rome Road exit over Interstate 70 are nearly complete which means all lanes and ramps are expected to be open the first of next week.

In May, ODOT began work to replace the bridge deck on the southbound structure and overlay the northbound Hilliard-Rome Road Bridge. Using ground penetrating radar to examine the bridges, ODOT engineers found the northbound structure was in better shape than the southbound bridge which is why identical improvements were not performed. The end result meant ODOT saved $600,000 by just making the necessary improvements.

To perform final paving and striping, crews will reduce Hilliard-Rome Road to one lane in each direction between Renner and Feder Roads from Sunday November 1 at 7 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday November 2. The exit ramp from I-70 west to Hilliard-Rome Road south will also be closed Monday only from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. The signed detour is I-70 west to State Route 142 to I-70 east. The unsigned detour is I-270 south to Broad Street to Hilliard-Rome Road. ODOT will use portable message boards on I-270 to alert drivers of the detours.

ODOT invested a total of $1.2 million to improve the bridges at the Hilliard-Rome Road exit over Interstate 70.

For up-to-date traffic information, construction information and road conditions, 24-hours a day, visit www.BuckeyeTraffic.org.