On June 29, the Ohio Department of Transportation broke ground on the second phase of its I-475 widening project which includes a long awaited interchange at U.S. Route 20A in Maumee.
ODOT and local elected officials gathered on the grounds of Dana Inc. at the corner of Route 20A and Technology Drive to break ground on the $101.9 million project.
Patrick McColley, district two deputy director, described the event as “a great day for transportation in northwest Ohio.”
The project, awarded to Kokosing Construction of Westerville, entails the widening of I-475 from two to three lanes–a five-mile stretch between Airport Highway and the Maumee River crossing.
It also includes resurfacing a portion of U.S. Route 24; improving access to the industrial corridor and constructing a divergent diamond interchange at Route 20A and I-475, he explained. Two bridges also will be replaced over the Norfolk Southern Railroad and Monclova Road.
For anyone interested in viewing the progress, a camera will be perched atop the Dana building to record the activity, Mr. McColley said.
Jack Marchbanks, ODOT director, said the interchange is “something we’ve wanted for a long time.” He credited Governor Mike DeWine and his administration for investing in northwest Ohio. “This project is the latest example of that,” the director said.
Mr. McColley pointed out the project would not have come to fruition without the partnerships formed by many area entities. “We appreciate the advocacy that really never wavered,” he said.
Partnering with ODOT were the Toledo Metropolitan Area Council of Governments, Lucas County, Toledo-Lucas County Port Authority, Monclova Township, City of Maumee and the Joint Economic Development Zone.
Lucas County engineer Mike Pniewski agreed, noting that through collaboration with ODOT, the county provided $2.2 million in funding toward the new interchange.
“This is an interchange that has been 30 years in the making, and it’s a partnership that provided the funds and political capital to be able to make this project a reality,” he said.
Mr. Pniewski believes the new interchange and widening of I-475 will provide an efficient transportation corridor for industry and open up areas from Monclova Township to the Toledo Express Airport for development.
“It also will lead to more jobs and increased economic development opportunities for western Lucas County, while providing a safer and more efficient transportation corridor,” he said, adding, “This is an example of a project that will pay great dividends, and it’s great to see this finally happening.”
Dave Gideon, vice president of transportation at TMACOG, said the interchange has been on the organization’s radar for more than two decades. A TMACOG study conducted in 2001 indicated the need for Route 20A and Dorr Street interchanges and a widening of I-475 along the corridor.
The Dorr interchange opened last year.
Chuck Hoecherl, Monclova Township trustee, commended those who made the dream a reality. “As was alluded to by others, it’s a partnership that brings everyone to the table with a financial commitment.”
He also expressed appreciation to former county engineer Keith Earley, for “helping propel the project.”
Mr. McColley noted that as work gets under way, traffic will be impacted, but I-475 travelers will continue to have two lanes of traffic in each direction throughout the duration.
Motorists on Route 20A will be impacted twice–the first, a 30-day closure and the second, for 14 days.
Drivers on Route 24 can expect long-term closures at on ramps and exit ramps. Restrictions on Monclova Road under I-475 also can be expected.
Mr. McColley said the Route 20A divergent diamond will mark the fourth along the I-475/I-75 corridor.
The first was in Perrysburg at State Route 25 with a second planned for the U.S. Route 20 /I-75 interchange also in Perrysburg. The Airport Highway/I-475 exit rounds out the four.
Mr. McColley said motorists have already seen the start of the project with crews removing trees along I-475 in preparation for construction, adding that more intense construction begins this month.
~Jane Maiolo
