HANCOCK COUNTY, Ohio — The Ohio Department of Transportation will implement closures on state Route 15 southeast of Findlay next week as part of a project to turn part of it into a limited-access highway following other construction projects in Hancock County.
State Route 15 was highlighted for an increase in severe and deadly accidents due to an increase in traffic on U.S. 23. and ODOT planned to eliminate its intersection with County Road 8. This effort included the installation of an overpass on County Road 180 and a roundabout at U.S. 68.
"This section of State Route 15 is ready to function as a limited-access highway,” said Chris Hughes, ODOT District 1 deputy director. “The closure will redirect traffic to interchange access points located nearby at U.S. 68 and State Route 37, which are a safer way to enter and exit the busy highway."
ODOT will begin removing median pavement on state Route 15 on Nov. 19 and will implement passing lane closures in both directions, the department said in a press release on Tuesday. It will also close access to the highway from County Road 8 for two days in December.
On Dec. 2, the county road will close on the highway's east side and there will be an eastbound driving lane closure for pavement removal and marking installation. The next day, the county road will close on the highway's west side and there will be an eastbound driving lane closure for pavement removal and marking installation.
For about two weeks following, there will be weather-dependent intermittent driving lane closures to remove pavement, cut in the ditch and install right-of-way fencing, according to ODOT.
Signs will also be installed in the area to notify drivers of the changes.
The image below provided by ODOT shows the area where the work will happen:
