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Columbus, OH -- Ohio Governor Mike DeWine joined representatives from the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) on Nov 1st, to celebrate the widening of a heavily congested 6.3-mile portion of State Route 161 in Franklin County.
The road-widening project added a third lane in each direction of State Route 161 from I-270 to U.S. 62, taking the road from four lanes to six.
Governor DeWine directed ODOT to prioritize this road construction project due to an anticipated increase in traffic resulting from large-scale economic development projects in the area.
"This roadway expansion is part of our commitment to addressing the transportation needs in Central Ohio," said Governor DeWine. "As this region continues to grow, we are working to ensure that our infrastructure evolves to meet current and future transportation demands in a manner that focuses on keeping drivers and passengers safe."
According to ODOT, traffic volumes on this section of State Route 161 have increased from around 66,000 vehicles a day in 2014 to approximately 83,000 vehicles today. At least 534 crashes have occured within this portion of State Route 161 since 2019. Rear-end and sideswipe crashes, which are often related to traffic congestion, made up more than 70% of those incidents. Crashes are expected to decrease with the widening of the road.
“On Nov 1st, marks a pivotal achievement in enhancing the safety and efficiency of this highway,” said ODOT Director Pamela Boratyn. “The addition of these lanes will not only alleviate congestion for the many commuters on this route but will also contribute to safer travel for all the tens of thousands of people who use this vital corridor each day.”
The new lanes on State Route 161 opened this week, and final paving of all six lanes will take place this spring. The State Route 161 Widening Project also widened the ramp from State Route 161 west to I-270 north on the northeast side of Columbus and includes the future installation of noise walls in select areas along the highway to mitigate sound impacts on nearby residents.
Over the last 20 years, ODOT has invested more than $120 million into this State Route 161 corridor.