TOLEDO, Ohio —
Travelers along southbound I-75 have felt a rough transition on the bridge approaches over I-280, and the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) plans to fix that beginning Friday at 9 p.m.
The southbound I-75 bridge over I-280 was constructed with the I-75 widening and reconstruction project from Lagrange Street to I-280. Since the work was completed in fall 2017, some long-term settlement occurred in the bridge approach, which caused a significant dip at the bridge abutment that needs to be addressed.
To repair this dip, crews are going to overlay the approach slab and mill and resurface the asphalt leading to the approach slab.
ODOT will divert southbound I-75 traffic to the Stickney Ave./Lagrange St. exit ramp off Exit 208. Drivers can also take southbound I-280 to Greenbelt Parkway (Exit 11) to get back on northbound I-280 to southbound I-75. Southbound I-75 traffic not exiting in Toledo can continue southbound on I-280 to westbound SR 795 back to I-75.
“We will extend MDOT’s two-lane construction zone down to I-280 where traffic will be diverted. We know this will cause congestion, but the diversion allows crews to get in, make the repairs quickly, and reopen southbound I-75 within about 10 days,” said Pat McColley, ODOT District 2 deputy director.
ODOT officials said they chose the full diversion of southbound I-75 traffic rather than maintaining one lane on the bridge (phased construction) for these benefits:
- Shorter construction/restriction duration of 10-14 days compared to three-four weeks of congestion for phased construction
- Less risk extending the project into colder conditions and not meeting construction specifications
- Better finished bridge because crews won’t have to match pavement joints
- Safer for crews without live traffic right next to them
- Safer for motorists because all traffic utilizing Exit 208 for I-280 and Stickney Ave./Lagrange St., so less weaving traffic
- An estimated $50,000 of savings