ODOT unveils plan to improve US 23 traffic

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – The U.S. 23 corridor through Delaware County should become a lot safer after Ohio officials announced plans to rehabilitate the roadway.

Gov. Mike DeWine and the Ohio Department of Transportation announced Monday the details of phase one of U.S. 23 Connect, a plan that should improve traffic along a 23-mile stretch from Columbus to Waldo.

According to a statement from DeWine and ODOT, this phase of the project would eliminate almost all of the 39 traffic signals on this stretch of the roadway, the only signals between I-270 in north Columbus and Toledo; if completed, this would leave seven or fewer signals on the road.

The plan also calls for wider lanes, adding several interchanges, and constructing overpasses.

There were nine fatal crashes and 72 people were injured on this stretch of road between 2020 and 2024, according to ODOT. The state also said that the stretch of road is now exceeding its capacity by 30%, which results in additional crashes and traffic congestion.

The average rush-hour commute is currently 40 minutes to travel this 23-mile stretch; by 2050, ODOT estimates that the same commute could exceed 75 minutes. Should all of the recommended proposals be put into place, the current commute time could be cut to less than 30 minutes, ODOT said.

"This small stretch of U.S. 23 is a vital corridor for freight, and those living and working in this area depend on it - but this road is not on par with the other routes that connect our major cities and even some of our mid-sized communities," DeWine said in a statement.

ODOT estimates the project will cost between $1.4 and $1.9 billion, with the state already spending $17 million on initial designs for the project.

The plans developed by the state are not final, and the public will be afforded the opportunity to speak out on them in five upcoming public meetings over the next few months. As such, a starting date for construction has not been set.

The first meeting is scheduled for Aug. 6 at a time and place to be announced. To keep up with the meeting schedule, follow ODOT on Facebook and X, sign up for email updates here, or call ODOT at 740-833-8268.

For more information on the project, click here. The recommendations from the U.S. 23 study can be read in the document below.