TOLEDO, Ohio — A new interchange at Dorr Street off of I-475 has been in the works for years. Now the Ohio Department of Transportation has finally received the green light to start construction.
ODOT has been talking about building an interchange at Dorr Street since the 1990s. Come spring of 2020, five miles of the road will be taken over by construction.
ODOT has recently received funding to build the $79 million dollar interchange, which will go up between Airport Highway and Central Avenue. Dorr Street is the only road that doesn't have an interchange.
Rebecca Dangelo, a spokesperson for ODOT, said the interchange will ease traffic congestion on I-475.
"Anybody that has been on I-475, especially during rush hours is very familiar with how much it backs up," Dangelo said.
The Dorr Street interchange is part of a larger project. Dangelo said funding will also go towards the widening of I-475 to three lanes in each direction. Across the state, ODOT will spend almost $400 million on construction to improve roadways and ease traffic congestion. Money for major new road projects comes from an increase in the state's motor fuel tax.
While orange barrels are set to go up on I-475 next spring, drivers will also still have to deal with the major construction on I-75 in both directions through 2023.
Two major road projects for Lucas County in 2020. Dangelo admitted it will be a headache at times for drivers.
"It's something we didn't want to delay on I-475 only because we have a project on I-75, but we do understand that it is not ideal," she said.
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