WELCOME!

July 31, 2012

ODOTDistrict 1

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PURPOSE OF TONIGHT’S MEETING

• Introduce the project – Reconstruct I-75 in Findlay

–From Harrison Street to CR-99– Add a third lane in each direction– Redesign and reconstruct the I-75/US-68

interchange

• Listen to your input

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PROJECT HISTORY

• May 2010 - IR-75 from Findlay to Perrysburg (40 miles)– Add third lane in each direction– TRAC approves preliminary development funding

($4 million)

• March 2011 – Project splits into two separate projects– Findlay – 5 miles (ODOT District 1)– North of Findlay – 35 miles (ODOT District 2)

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PROJECT HISTORY

Findlay Section• October 2011 – First Stakeholder Meeting

– Discuss purpose and need for project– Stakeholders:

• ODOT Representatives• Public Officials• Emergency Response Services• Findlay Airport• Business representatives

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PROJECT HISTORY

• April 2012 – Construction funding is assigned for 2017– 2015 if funding becomes available.

• May 2012 – Second Stakeholder Meeting – Reviewed US 68/I-75 interchange designs– ODOT’s recommended design

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PROJECT HISTORY• IR-75/US-224 interchange status:

– Independent project– 2014 construction

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PROJECT HISTORY – NORTH OF FINDLAY

• Project north of Findlay section– Mike Stormer, ODOT District 2, Planning

Engineer• Phone No.: (419) 373-4472

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PROJECT HISTORY – NORTH OF FINDLAY

• Widen IR-75 from two to three lanes in each direction

• From County Road 99 in Hancock County to I-475 in Wood County

• Design has started:• Section from SR-582 to IR-475 • Mainline bridge widening.

• No construction money for section south of SR-582

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PROJECT HISTORY – NORTH OF FINDLAY

• Lanes will be added in the existing grass median

• Median will be changed from raised to depressed

• Cable barrier will be installed

• Full depth pavement reconstruction of all existing lanes and interchange ramps.

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WHAT HAS BEEN DONE SO FAR?

• Environmental research and field studies

• Field surveys

• Aerial mapping

• Drafting and completing project-related documents

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PROJECT OVERVIEW

• Proposed project to widen and reconstruct Interstate 75

• From south of Harrison Street/County Road 144, which is just south of the Ohio 15/U.S. Route 68 interchange, to the County Road 99 interchange in Findlay

• I-75 constructed in mid 1950s, and not had a significant upgrade since 1989

• Volume of traffic increased beyond what the roadway could handle.

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PROJECT OVERVIEW

• Underlying pavement of I-75 in Hancock County is over 20 years old and has been extensively repaired over the past seven years

• Repairs have improved surface conditions• Still have underlying problems of the pavement

continue to worsen and will affect the surface conditions

• This project was initiated due to heavier traffic volumes, poor pavement, and safety concerns.

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WHY ARE WE DOING THIS PROJECT?

• Improve safety on I-75

• Replace failing pavement

• Reduce congestion

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WHAT NEEDS TO BE FIXED?

• High number of crashes on I-75 and US 68/SR15

• Short ramps, narrow shoulders, and sharp curves are safety hazards

• Poor pavement

• More lanes for vehicles

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TRAFFIC ISSUES

• Currently, about 49,000 vehicles travel I-75 in the project corridor daily

• I-75 traffic is projected to increase to nearly 60,000 vehicles per day by 2036 (the Design Year)

• Heavy trucks make up 35 percent of traffic in the project corridor

• Vehicles will not be able to travel at their own desired speed

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EXISTING ROADWAY AND CRASHES

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WHAT IS GOING TO BE DONE

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WHAT IS GOING TO BE DONE

• Harrison Street Overpass will be replaced with spans to accommodate the new I-75 lanes

• Noise walls may be built along I-75• Reconstruct the I-75 / US 68 / SR 15 Interchange• Lima Avenue will be reconstructed to Lima Avenue

US 68/SR15• Will be purchasing right of way but do not know

those limits at this time• Preliminary Estimated Construction Costs: $128

million

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WHAT IS NOT GOING TO BE DONE

• The following overpasses will not be replaced as part of this project:

• CR 88 – Sandusky Street• SR 12 – Main Cross Street• CR 95 – Bigelow Avenue• CR 99

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CONCEPTUAL ALTERNATIVES FOR I-75 / US 68 / SR 15 INTERCHANGE

• New interchange that will allow vehicles to access the highways safer and more efficiently

• A new connection to Lima Avenue will also be constructed

• 10 conceptual interchanges were designed then ODOT evaluated and picked the best three for further study– Conceptual Alternative #1– Conceptual Alternative #2– Conceptual Alternative #8

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CONCEPTUAL ALTERNATIVE 1

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CONCEPTUAL ALTERNATIVE 2

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CONCEPTUAL ALTERNATIVE 8

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NEXT STEPS

• July-August 2012 – Environmental field crews collect information in the field study area

• August 31, 2012 – Public comment period ends and comments evaluated

• September 2012 – Preferred alternative announced through media press release

• November 2012 – Environmental studies complete

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NEXT STEPS

• December 2012 - Public meeting to show right of way impacts on properties and proposed locations of noise walls

• Beginning of 2013 - ODOT begins acquiring additional right of way

• Spring 2017 - Construction is currently scheduled to begin in 2017, pending approved funding. – If funding becomes available earlier construction could

be moved up to Spring 2015. A meeting, which will be open to the public, will be held prior to the start of construction.

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