LUCAS COUNTY, Ohio — The Ohio Department of Transportation said significant traffic impacts are expected Saturday as work is done to open northbound I-475 to three lanes between U.S. Route 24 and Airport Highway.
According to ODOT, northbound I-475 will be reduced to one lane beginning at 6 a.m. between the Maumee River/U.S. Route 24 and SR 2/Airport Highway, lasting throughout the day until the traffic switch is complete.
ODOT said all northbound on-and-off ramps at U.S. Route 24, Dussel Drive/Salisbury Road and SR 2/Airport Highway will experience closures during the switch. The closures are said to last a minimum of one hour each and ramps are expected to be closed simultaneously in the northbound direction at different times throughout the day. ODOT said during the traffic switch, overhead signage indicating the new exit location will be installed.
ODOT said once the switch is complete and the three northbound lanes are open to traffic, drivers will see a new exit location for northbound I-475 to Dussel Drive, labeled Exit 6.
According to ODOT, a collector/distributor road will open and function as the new exit point for Dussel Drive/Salisbury Road and the future U.S. Route 20A interchange.
Traffic merging northbound on I-475 from U.S. Route 24 and exiting to Dussel Drive will remain in the right lane. ODOT said the lane will act as an add/drop "auxiliary lane" for safer merges.
ODOT said following Saturday's traffic switch, both directions of I-475 will still be an active construction zone into the winter. Variable speed limits will also be in effect.
According to ODOT, southbound I-475 is expected to open to three lanes before the end of the year and potentially as soon as the weekend of Dec. 21. The reconstructed northbound I-475 lanes will need additional work in the spring of 2025 that will require additional lane restrictions.
The new U.S. Route 20A interchange is nearing completion, with signal work, paving and pavement striping work still needing to be done. ODOT said opening the interchange is "a second priority" to opening three lanes of I-475 and is dependent on the weather.
