ROSSFORD, Ohio — Get ready. Monday kicked off a new phase in the greater I-75 project to replace the DiSalle Bridge and maintain the infrastructure leading into downtown Toledo.
This stretch of the project goes from South Avenue to Buck Road.
Changes began on Monday in preparation to switch all traffic to the southbound span of the DiSalle Bridge.
You will start to see those changes over the weekend between Wales and Buck Roads.
"After the weekend, we're going to have it reduced to two lanes. That's kind of the beginning of the lane reductions, and that's going to pretty much be like that through the remainder of the project. And then the following week is when we're going to start putting barrier wall up so people start seeing those changes," ODOT spokesperson Rebecca Dangelo said.
Around the beginning of July, you can expect all traffic to be moved to the southbound lanes.
This will also involve ramp closures.
South Avenue to southbound I-75 will be closed to gain better access to the new bridge once it is constructed.
The ramp from northbound I-75 to Wales Road will be closed for 60 days.
Buck Road to northbound I-75 will be closed through the end of the year.
To get around, ODOT recommends just going to the next exit and turning around to gain access from the opposite direction.
"One of our goals is to keep two lanes of traffic in each direction throughout the whole entire duration of the project. With that, they are going to begin constructing the southbound lanes while maintaining traffic on the current bridges," Dangelo said.
It's unclear exactly when, but for one weekend over the summer you will not be able to access Miami Street from I-75.
The idea is to get those ramps in good shape so that will be the only time they have to be closed.
Years from now, once the new DiSalle Bridge is done, there will be four lanes and better access ramps in both directions.