Fremont Pike construction: Mayor, ODOT hope project will improve traffic safety

PERRYSBURG, Ohio — It might not be happening right away, but big changes are coming to one of the busiest traffic areas in Wood County.  Ahead of the construction project, the public is gearing up for what the Ohio Department of Transportation said will improve simplicity and safety at the Fremont Pike and I-75 interchange.

Some residents are looking forward to seeing the improvement. The area is filled with businesses – and traffic. 

“You bite your tongue and be patient,” said Pam Noyes, a Perrysburg resident. “That’s about all you can do, you know, because it’s really, really busy.”

Noyes loves to get her cup of coffee every morning at the French Quarter Square, just down from I-75 at U.S. 23, or Fremont Pike. But she doesn’t love driving through the traffic backup to get there.

“We’re really calm right now because it’s, you know, earlier in the morning, but give it lunchtime and everything goes crazy,” she said.

The interchange design and increasing traffic at the interchange have caused traffic backups several times a day, especially during the holiday shopping rush.

“This area has grown so much out of all the areas all over District 2,” said Pat McColley, the District Deputy Director for ODOT. “There hasn’t really been a larger growth area than northern Wood County, and because of that, it’s really putting a burden on the infrastructure.”

There has also been an increase in crashes and there are confusing left turns to get on I-75 north and south.

From a feasibility study, ODOT said it had three options to fix it: a partial cloverleaf design, a diverging diamond, or doing “no build” there. 

McColley said ODOT has chosen the diverging diamond, called a DDI, like the one completed on Route 25 by Levis Commons in 2017.

During construction, traffic moving through on I-75 will be maintained, while the DDI will be built under the 75 overpass on Fremont Pike. 

“DDIs on average, they increase the capacity by around 15 to 25 percent and the throughput by about 10 to 30% depending on what the design is now, and you know, obviously going to a DDI, they’re more efficient, they’re safer,” McColley said.

The new diverging diamond could reduce traffic crashes and improve traffic flow, but this is not going to be easy for drivers and businesses while the work is being done. ODOT said it could take two construction seasons – almost two full years – from start to finish.

“We have to plan for the future, and this is a logical step to address that concern,” said Perrysburg Mayor Tom Mackin.

Mackin fully supports the DDI being built there, but worries about the impacts during construction.

“We’re going to have to take steps to try and make sure that people first know what the alternatives are, know where their different choices can be, and then knowing that people maybe from the east side of Perrysburg will go to 795 and use that exchange if they want to go north,” Mackin said.

Mackin said they’re already talking to businesses that will be affected.

ODOT won’t shut down I-75 traffic and will try to keep at least one lane open on Fremont Pike when they can.

The project also calls for a roundabout to be built at South Boundary Street near the Speedway gas station. The nearby Burger King also falls into the construction zone. 

Drivers and businesses have time to prepare because actual construction won’t begin until April of 2027 and be completed near the end of 2028. 

“There’s going to be some pain. But there is with every project we do and people usually, they’re looking forward to a project. They hate when it’s getting done and then you know when we’re done it’s like can’t imagine anything different,” McColley said.

“Anything that’s better, would make it happier for everybody,” said Pam Noyes.

ODOT is holding an open house on the project Thursday, Feb. 27 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Perrysburg Junior High school.

Anyone who attends can look at traffic renderings and give their feedback on the DDI.