Lane conversions at 20 toll plaza interchanges along the Ohio Turnpike are nearing completion, and four new and renovated toll plazas on the mainline will enable non-stop open road tolling for E-ZPass customers.
More than 20 construction projects are required to modernize the turnpike’s toll collection system (TCS). The modernization plan includes a reduction in the number of toll plazas from 31 to 24. One major project entails upgrades to 20 toll plaza interchanges from plaza 52 Toledo Airport-Swanton in Lucas County to plaza 209 Warren in Trumbull County. Lanes are being upgraded with sensors and technology to read E-ZPass transponders and to classify vehicles by the number of axles and vehicle height.
The gates from all toll plaza entrance lanes are being removed, and gates in E-ZPassonly exit lanes will remain in the upright position. Automatic toll payment machines, which accept cash and credit cards, will be available at all 20 toll plaza interchanges as well as the four mainline toll plazas when completed.
Four mainline toll plazas will enable non-stop open road tolling for E-ZPass customers.
The renovations will enable E-ZPass customers to travel non-stop across the 241-mile toll road. Customers without EZPass will be required to stop for a ticket and/or pay a toll with cash or credit card.
Construction of Westgate toll plaza at milepost 4 in Williams County is expected to be completed in mid-August. The Swanton plaza at milepost 49 in Lucas County was completed in 2021. Newton Falls at milepost 211 in Trumbull County was completed earlier this year, and renovation of Eastgate at milepost 239 in Mahoning County is under way and expected to be completed by spring 2024.
“The new TCS system and the technology behind it are a big step forward in safety, efficiency, and convenience for the turnpike’s passenger car and commercial truck customers to reach east and west destinations along the northern corridor of Ohio and beyond,” said Ferzan Ahmed, executive director.
