ODOT celebrates Independence Day
with Red, White, and Blue… and Orange

Fourth of July Holiday Traffic Advisory

COLUMBUS (Thursday, July 1, 2010) - As Ohio enters the height of the summer travel season with the extended 4^th of July holiday, the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) is adding some orange to the red, white, and blue of Independence Day with a reminder to drivers to go "Slow for the Cone Zone."

Even though most construction work is suspended over the four-day holiday weekend, the orange barrels and permanent work zone restrictions remain in place.

According to ODOT’s highway safety experts, reduced speed limits, traffic lane shifts, and narrower lanes make it important for drivers to slow down and be aware of their surroundings in a work zone at all times of the day - even if construction crews are not on site.

The last time July 4^th fell on a Sunday, traffic on Ohio’s roadways increased by 11 percent on the Friday before the holiday. ODOT expects the same increase this year.

Safety is the department’s top priority: during the four-day Independence Day holiday last year, there were nine fatal crashes and 561 injury crashes on Ohio’s roads. The top three reasons for the crashes were following too closely (tailgating), failure to control, and failure to yield.

ODOT reminds motorists that it pays to know before you go. ODOT’s premiere website, www.BuckeyeTraffic.org, offers up-to-the-minute information on work zone locations, traffic congestion alerts, road closures, weather conditions, and Highway Patrol accident updates; all available 24-hours a day, seven days a week.

Here’s a list highlighting some of ODOT’s major highway construction projects that might impact holiday travel:

(NEW) Interstate 90, Lorain County (Northern Ohio)
Interstate 90, from 0.6 miles west of State Route 57 to State Route 611, is restricted to one lane in each direction. One lane of traffic will be maintained at all times.

Interstate 71, Wayne County (Northeastern Ohio)
The right lanes of Interstate 71 north and southbound, between mile markers 196 and 199, are closed for work. Two lanes of traffic will be maintained at all times in each direction.

(NEW) State Route 21, Wayne County (Northeastern Ohio)
State Route 21, between the Stark County line and Eastern Rd., is restricted to one lane of traffic, which will be maintained at all times in each direction.

Interstate 90, Ashtabula County (Northeastern Ohio)
Interstate 90 from State Route 11 to State Route 193 is currently undergoing reconstruction work. One westbound lane will continue to travel on the westbound side. Plymouth Rd. over I-90 is closed until mid-July. The detour route is Brown Rd., Griggs Rd., State Route 46 and State Rd. Access to all residences and businesses will be maintained throughout construction.

State Route 8, Summit County (Northeastern Ohio)
State Route 8, from south of Twinsburg Rd. to north of the Interstate 271 interchange is undergoing reconstruction work. Two lanes of traffic in each direction will be maintained.

Interstate 77, Summit County (Northeastern Ohio)
Interstate 77 from just south of Brush Rd. to just north of State Route 21 is in a crossover condition with one southbound and two northbound lanes traveling on the northbound side of I-77. An additional southbound lane still travels on the southbound side of I-77. All lanes are reduced to a width of 10 feet each. Also, the entrance ramp from State Route 21 southbound to I-77 southbound is closed. The detour is posted.

Interstate 77, Cuyahoga County (Northeastern Ohio)
Interstate 77 traffic is maintained, utilizing temporary pavement and lane shifts.

Interstate 90, Lake County (Northeastern Ohio)
Due to construction, Interstate 90 traffic is maintained with two lanes in each direction utilizing temporary crossovers.

State Route 2, Lake County (Northeastern Ohio)
State Route 2 traffic is being maintained during construction; however, numerous entrance and exit ramps along the route remain closed. Detours are posted.

(NEW) State Route 2 over Interstate 90, Cuyahoga County (Northeastern Ohio)
Two lanes in the eastbound direction and one lane in the westbound direction on State Route 2 over the

I-90 Innerbelt Curve are closed. One lane remains open in each direction for use.

Interchange at Interstate 475 and U.S. Route 24, Lucas County (Northwestern Ohio)
U.S. Route 24, from Monclova Road to Dutch Road, is reduced to one lane in each direction for bridge replacement. Four interchange loop ramps are closed. Detours are posted.

Interstate 75, Lucas and Wood Counties (Northwestern Ohio)
Interstate 75, from Wales Rd. to Erie St. is reduced to two lanes in each direction for bridge repair. Ramp closures include Wales Rd., Miami St. (State Route 65), and South Ave.

(NEW) State Route 315, Franklin County (Central Ohio)
Two lanes of traffic are being maintained in each direction in the northbound lanes on State Route 315. The following entrance ramps to SR 315 are closed: Interstate 670 east to SR 315 north, Goodale Blvd. to SR 315 north, Olentangy River Rd. to SR 315 north, Lane Ave. to SR 315 north, Olentangy River Rd. to SR 315 south, North Broadway to SR 315 south, Ackerman Rd. to SR 315 south, Lane Ave. to SR 315 south, and 12^th Ave. to SR 315 south. The speed limit is reduced to 45 mph.

Interstate 270, Franklin County (Central Ohio)
Two bridges on Interstate 270 on Columbus’ south side between Interstate 71 and U.S. Route 23 are under construction. Two lanes of traffic are maintained and shifted to the shoulder. The speed limit is reduced to 55 mph in the work zone.

Interstate 70, Belmont County (Eastern Ohio)
Two lanes of traffic are being maintained in both directions during this five-mile major upgrade of Interstate 70, stretching 2.5 miles on each side of exit 208. The eastbound rest area is currently closed due to this construction.

Interstate 77, Tuscarawas County (Eastern Ohio)
Lanes are restricted on Interstate 77 at County Route 80 in Dover for construction of a new diamond interchange. Two lanes of traffic are maintained in the work zone.

U.S. Route 33/State Route 29 Interchange, Auglaize County (Western Ohio)
The U.S. Route 33/State Route 29 interchange in Auglaize County is closed for bridge deck replacement. Ramps not directly affected by the bridge deck will remain open to motorists.

State Route 32, Brown County (Southern Ohio)
State Route 32, from the Brown/Clermont county line to just east of the U.S. Route 68 overpass at Mt. Orab is reduced to one lane at the U.S. 68 overpass. Width restrictions are also in effect on the ramp from U.S. 68 to SR 32 East. Throughout construction, traffic will be maintained in at least one, 12-foot lane in each direction; a reduced speed limit is in effect.

State Route 32, Jackson County (Southern Ohio)
State Route 32 is reduced to one lane between the Jackson-Pike County line and the 12.5-mile marker or Township Route 259 (Cutlip Rd.), approximately 2.5 miles east of the Jackson corporation limit. A 12-foot width restriction and reduced speed limit will be in effect on mainline SR 32; however, a 10-foot width restriction will be in effect on the ramp from SR 32 east to U.S. Route 35 east.

State Route 104, Ross County (Southern Ohio)
Construction for a major widening project on SR 104 at Chillicothe continues. Crews will be constructing additional thru-traffic lanes between U.S. Route 35/Pleasant Valley Rd. and State Route 207. Throughout construction, traffic will be maintained using a minimum of one, 10.5-foot lane in each direction.

U.S. Route 50/U.S. Route 33, Athens County (Southeastern Ohio)
Both U.S. Route 50 and U.S. Route 33 are reduced to one lane. The U.S. 50 lane restriction begins at the junction of U.S. 50 and U.S. 33 and ends at County Route 52 (Della). The U.S. 33 lane restriction begins at the junction of U.S. 50 and U.S. 33 and ends at East State Street near Ohio University. The speed limit has been reduced to 45 mph.

(NEW) State Route 7, Washington County (Southeastern Ohio)
State Route 7, located at the Interstate 77 southbound ramp to Duck Creek Bridge (0.1 miles), is reduced to one lane. Although there is no speed limit reduction, motorists can expect slight delays.

Interstate 75, Montgomery County (Southwestern Ohio)
Interstate 75 from Edwin C. Moses Blvd. to Fifth St. is being reconstructed. Two lanes of traffic will remain open to motorists in each direction.

Interstate 75, Montgomery County (Southwestern Ohio)
Speeds are reduced on Interstate 75 from Main St. to Stanley Ave. (including the State Route 4 ramp). Two lanes of traffic will remain open to motorists in each direction.

Interstate 75, Butler and Warren counties (Southwestern Ohio)
North and southbound Interstate 75 from Cincinnati-Dayton Rd. in Butler County to State Route 122 in Warren County is under construction. Three lanes of traffic in each direction are being maintained, with north and southbound traffic separated by a concrete barrier wall.

Interstate 75, Warren County (Southwestern Ohio)
North and southbound Interstate 75 from State Route 122 to the Warren/Montgomery county line are under construction. Three reduced-width lanes of traffic on northbound I-75 are being maintained.

Interstate 35, Greene County (Southwestern Ohio)
There is resurfacing, bridge repair and interchange lighting upgrading on U.S. Route 35 over Interstate 675. One lane in each direction is being maintained between Montgomery County and North Fairfield Road.