The Ohio Department of Transportation will begin a series of summer work projects Monday on U.S. 33. Ramps onto and off the freeway will be closed sporadically through the next week.
(Journal-Tribune photo by Mac Cordell)
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The Ohio Department of Transportation will begin work on U.S. 33 sooner than expected.
Marysville Public Service Director Jeremy Hoyt said that ODOT will begin work on U.S. 33 on Monday morning.
The U.S. 36 northbound ramp to Northwest Parkway will close starting 7 a.m. Monday, through 1 p.m. Friday, for pavement repairs. Traffic will be detoured onto U.S. 36 northbound to U.S. 33 eastbound to Route 31 northbound to U.S. 33 westbound to Northwest Parkway.
The U.S. 33 westbound ramp to U.S. 36 westbound will close overnight, from 7 p.m., Monday until 6 a.m., Tuesday. Traffic will be detoured onto U.S. 33 westbound to Honda Parkway to U.S. 33 eastbound to U.S. 36.
The U.S. 36 eastbound ramp to U.S. 33 westbound will close overnight, from 7 p.m., Tuesday until 6 a.m., Wednesday. Traffic will be detoured onto U.S. 33 eastbound to Route 31 northbound to U.S. 33 westbound.
The Northwest Parkway eastbound ramp to U.S. 33 eastbound will close at 8 p.m., Friday through 6 a.m. Sunday. Traffic will be detoured onto Northwest Pkwy to U.S. 33 westbound to Honda Pkwy to U.S. 33 eastbound.
“We were under the impression that it was happening in mid-May, but it is their project and they told us (Thursday) that is would begin Monday,” Hoyt said.
He said city staff will be in “constant communication” with ODOT officials.
“We have the ability to monitor the traffic to see where the traffic is going,” Hoyt said. “It is going to be quite a lot to make sure the traffic is moving, wherever it is going.”
He said the city will monitor and adjust signaling if necessary to accommodate the different traffic patterns.
“We preach patience and once the project is complete, the drive along U.S. 33 will be a lot smoother,” Hoyt said.
The public service director said this is the first of a series of projects scheduled this summer for the ramps onto and off U.S. 33. Nearly all the ramps will be under construction at some point this summer. Hoyt said he does not have a time line for all of the projects yet.
“We don’t know when yet,” Hoyt said.
Additionally, later this summer ODOT will make full-depth joint repairs to U.S. 33 to make the ride smoother for drivers. Hoyt said it is the joints that cause the constant vibration for drivers in that area.
Hoyt said that even with the work, one lane of U.S. 33 will remain open through the four-week project. He said work will take place 24 hours a day.
“They are only allowed to close one lane at a time,” Hoyt said.
He warned drivers “even though the road isn’t fully closed, when traffic is reduced to one lane, we have seen traffic delays.”
Hoyt said the plan was to repave all of U.S. 33 inside the city limits but a scheduled bridge repair project in the next couple of years changed that.
“They don’t want to pave it and then in a year bring all that equipment in and tear it up again at the bridge,” Hoyt said. “Once the bridge is repaired, they will pave the entire section.”
The projects were originally scheduled to be completed last year, but ODOT moved them to this year because bids came in higher than expected.
Hoyt said he understands that the ever-changing schedule can be frustrating for drivers. He said city officials do not have a say when the projects will move forward.
“We are just bystanders on this. We will work to make sure the work on U.S. 33 has as little impact on traffic on city streets as possible, but we know there will be impacts. But at the end of the day, it is beyond the city’s control.”
Hoyt said he believes ODOT will hit the time markers. He said ODOT creates financial incentives for contractors to get the project complete early and has financial penalties if it does not meet the deadline.
ODOT has budgeted $4.4 million for the project. The city share of the project is $750,000.
“We are extremely thankful for that because originally we were going to be on the hook for all of it,” Hoyt said.