TOLEDO, Ohio — If you drive on County Road 99 near I-75 in Findlay, you might notice road work that began Monday.
A diverging diamond is being built to reduce accidents on these roads.
Cheri Newton, the public information officer for the Ohio Department of Transportation District 1, said this work is important.
"DDI's (diverging diamond interchanges) provide efficient and safe traffic movement which is needed here," Newton said. "Currently, traffic backs up on County Road 99 and the ramps as traffic exits I-75."
Newton said the existing interchange has 56% more traffic than it's designed to handle.
"Shifting traffic going to the opposite side of the highway, they don't have to turn against opposing traffic," Newton said. "So there's no chance you're going to have an at-bone crash because you're not turning in front of the traffic that is trying to go straight."
This year, crews will build a new ramp, install bridges and reconstruct the roadway on the south side of County Road 99.
In 2025, work will start on the north bridge, including replacing a bridge deck. It will be finalized in 2026 and new asphalt, signs, lights and signals will be installed.
According to Newton, traffic will be impacted and drivers should plan ahead for any delays that may happen during construction.
"Over the course of the project, the traffic impacts you can see are going to be that 80-90 days, two lanes for the pier construction," Newton said. "We will have some drainage work that will close all four ramps for three days at different times."
The diverging diamond is planned to be completed in July 2026.