Perry, Bath residents updated on I-75 project

PERRY TOWNSHIP — Residents of Perry and Bath townships heard from state officials who are going to cause several years of construction woes for residents of the two townships as well as anyone using Interstate 75 or a bridge that passes over it.

The good news is in four years the projects will be complete and the state highways, the interstate and bridges will be new and in much better shape to manage traffic flow.

It all starts this year, in a few weeks when construction begins to replaces bridges that cross I-75 at Reservoir Road and Fourth Street, said Dan Kaseman, the project administrator for the Ohio Department of Transportation.

“You will be seeing cranes out there fairly quickly,” Kaseman said.

The two new bridges should be in place and finished by November, ODOT officials said.

In 2013, the project to redo state Route 309 east of I-75 will begin. In the end, it will have similar features to the project completed last year on state Route 309 in front of the Lima Mall, ODOT officials said.

That same year, I-75 just north of Hanthorn Road and north of state Route 81 will be under construction with two lanes remaining open as part of a $76.7 million project. The cement wall that divides the north and south lanes will be removed and the interstate will be divided by a 50-foot grass median. The reason is to allow expansion to a third lane on each side, if the need ever arises, Kaseman said.

On top of that, the round-about ramps at state Route 309 and ramps at state Route 81 will be converted to the traditional diamond design that allows straight access on and off. Noise walls, up to 15 feet tall, will keep noise pollution down for the nearby neighborhoods, Kaseman said.

In 2014, I-75 just north of Hanthorn Road and south to the Auglaize County line will undergo the same reconstruction. The curves at Hanthorn and McClain roads will be realigned to be less dramatic. That project will cost $72.3 million, he said.

Bridges, some of which are nearly 60 years old, will be replaced. At no time will two bridges next to one another on the interstate be closed. That is to allow access across Interstate 75. There will be off and on ramp closures, Kaseman said.

ODOT has been proactive in taking its show on the road to various groups and township meetings to educate the public as much as possible. There also is a website available with information at http://j.mp/Ar5aYd to see more information.

ODOT also has a Facebook page to leave comments and see updates at http://j.mp/zZbwOS.

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