ODOT and Turnpike could be forced to come up with US-23 alternative on Toledo/Columbus route

TOLEDO, Ohio (WTVG) – We’re now one big step closer toward seeing a smoother route from our region to Columbus.

ODOT may be forced to come up with a plan to avoid the congestion around US-23. A piece added to the state transportation budget forces ODOT and the Turnpike to come up with a feasible route. Now we wait to see if this idea stays in the budget.

This is not a request for a study. Local business leaders are done with studies. This amendment to the transportation budget forces engineers to come back to the legislature with an actual route.

The hope is for an easier route from Toledo to Columbus, avoiding that congestion through Delaware, Ohio for example. It’s not just for residents but businesses and trucks headed to central Ohio.

This new request of ODOT and the Turnpike comes in the state transportation budget. An amendment added Wednesday to the Senate version would force ODOT and the Turnpike to create a feasible connection from US-23 to I-71 near Columbus.

Some of the options to be considered would be an expansion of State Route 229 to connect them both or a new freeway, or even the possibility of creating a toll road between US-23 and I-71. This piece of the transportation budget would provide engineering reports for the most feasible route. It is not asking for a study, it’s asking for a route.

Toll road is an option. That could be a preferred option because it would have built-in dollars for building up that route and its maintenance.

“It goes back to the initial conversations with the governor that said all options should be on the table. Let’s evaluate that. Figure out what’s going to be best to accomplish our goals and then move forward. We said the turnpike commission should at least be involved in at least having that conversation to see how this can happen,” said Brian Dicken with the Toledo Regional Chamber of Commerce.

ODOT has studied this congestion before and the decision was made to simply make some changes to the traffic lights and minor changes to US-23 itself.

This measure forces them to come up with an alternate route.

This transportation budget has to get through the full Senate, then back to the House and eventually the Governor. If it passes, it would give ODOT and the Turnpike 90 days to come up with that route.

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