Project Update
Interstate 75 Reconstruction --Project 2, Allen County
Fourth Street to Ohio 81
- Ohio 117/309 Safety Upgrade
- Ohio 81 Reconstruction and Alignment
February 21, 2014
Restrictions on Interstate 75 both directions to continue next week; turning movements at Ohio 117 (Bellefontaine Road) and Ohio 309 to be altered next week
Ohio 117 (Bellefontaine Road)
- Traffic on Ohio 117 (Bellefontaine Road) at Ohio 117/309 will be restricted for part of a day next week for pavement marking work at the intersection.The work will temporarily close the right-hand lane on Ohio 117 at the intersection.
- Once work is complete, traffic will no longer be permitted to turn left (westbound) onto Ohio 117/309 from the right-hand lane. Motorists in theright-hand lanewill be permitted to continue straight across Ohio 117/309 or turn right. Only traffic in the left-hand lane will be permitted to turn westbound.
- Law enforcement will monitor the intersection to ensure motorists are adhering to this pattern.
- This traffic pattern will remain while work to reconstruct the interchange at Interstate 75 takes place.
Interstate 75
I-75 Mainline
- Motorists can expect continued traffic delays on Interstate 75 from north of Reservoir Road to Ohio 81 in Lima throughout next week to allow for general repair work to the pavement and signage.
- Restrictions on I-75 continue today for work to set beams for a new bridge structure over the CF&E railroad. This operation may be completed today but could continue into Saturday.
- The restrictions this week and next will be in place from 7 a.m. until 2 p.m. each day. The schedule is weather dependent.
- Fence removal and work related to erosion control will begin next week along I-75 from the Auglaize County line to Fourth Street. This is the first work related to the reconstruction of this section of the interstate, referred to as Project 3. Traffic will not be affected.
- Restricted lane widths make plowing snow through the zone more challenging for ODOT workers. Motorists are asked to not pass plows which are working in the zone.
- Traffic both northbound and southbound on Interstate 75 is now traveling on new concrete pavement from just south of Fourth Street to Reservoir Road and is then transitioned back to the existing pavement.
- Motorists should be aware that all entrance and exit ramp merge areas have been shortened throughout the project area. Drivers on Interstate 75 are encouraged to use the passing lane through the zone if they do not wish to exit. Signs advising this have been placed throughout the project area.
- Traffic cameras to view the construction area may be accessed at or at
- Please drive slowly through the construction zone.
Ohio 117/309 Interchange
- Traffic on Ohio 117/309 at Interstate 75 continues to be one lane in each direction as you approach the interchange area.
- Traffic will remain in this pattern while construction of the bridge on Interstate 75 over Ohio 117/309 takes place.
- The Ohio 117/309 interchange is in full operation and all ramps are open.
Johnny Appleseed Bike Path
- The Johnny Appleseed bike path in the area of the CF&E Railroad will remain closed while setting of bridge beams at the railroad bridge occurs overhead.
Ohio 117/309 Safety Upgrade Project
- Occasional work on traffic signalseast of the Interstate 75 interchange will continue. Lane closures are needed during this operation but are expected to be short in duration.
Ohio 81
- All ramps at the Ohio 81 interchange are open.
- Traffic both eastbound and westbound has been shifted onto the new concrete pavementfrom just west of Stewart Road to just west of Neubrecht Road. Traffic will remain one lane in each direction over the winter.
- Work in the bridge area at Ohio 81 will continue through the winter.
About the I-75 Project Phases:
Project 2 will reconstruct the existing lanes of Interstate 75 from Fourth Street to just north of Ohio 81 in Lima. This phase also includes the reconstruction of the Fourth Street, Ohio 81 and Ohio 117/309 interchanges; a safety upgrade to Ohio 309 east of the Interstate 75 interchange; and the reconstruction and realignment of Ohio 81 from Neubrecht to Stewart Road. This phase is expected to be completed in 2015.
Project 1 of the Interstate 75 reconstruction project, which is the replacement of the Fourth Street and Reservoir Road bridges over Interstate 75 in Lima, was completed in the spring. Both structures were opened to traffic last fall. Project 3, from the Auglaize County line to Fourth Street, will begin in 2014. This phase also includes the reconstruction of the Breese Road and Ohio 65 interchanges as well as the replacement of the Hanthorn and McClain Road bridges over Interstate 75. The overall project is scheduled to be completed in 2016.
Project information may be found on Facebook at on Twitter, prefaced with #ODOTLima75, at and on the Web at
ODOT Contact Information
Scott Mullins, P.E., Area Engineer
419-999-6903;
Dan Kaseman, P.E., Planning and Engineering Administrator
419-999-6861;
Rhonda Pees, Public Information Officer
419-999-6803;
You are receiving this communication because you have either requested to be added to our distribution list, or have been identified by us as an entity which will be affected by the I-75 reconstruction project. Those on this distribution list will be provided project updates as they are issued during all phases of the project. If you wish to be removed from our list, please contact Rhonda Pees, public information officer, at
Thank you.