Ohio Department of Transportation • Traffic Advisory
DISTRICT 1 • KIRK SLUSHER, P.E., DISTRICT DEPUTY DIRECTOR
1885 North McCullough St. • Lima, Ohio 45801
www.transportation.ohio.gov/dist1
The following is a weekly report concerning construction and maintenance work on state
highways within the Ohio Department of Transportation District 1 which includes the counties of
Allen, Defiance, Hancock, Hardin, Paulding, Putnam, Van Wert and Wyandot. This report is
issued each week beginning in April and continues through November.
For the latest in statewide construction visit www.ohgo.com. Please contact us at 419-999-6803
with any information needs.
Construction and Maintenance Projects
Week of November 18, 2013
Did you know this transportation fact?
Why do bridges ice before the rest of the highway? According to
the How Stuff Works website, ice forms more quickly on bridges
and overpasses on a cold, rainy day because freezing wind strikes
the bridge above and below and on both sides, so it's losing heat
from every side. The road is only losing heat from its surface. Even
while the temperature on the road surface is dropping, the heat
underneath the road keeps it warm enough to prevent icing.
Bridges have no way to trap any heat, so they will continually lose
heat and freeze shortly after temperatures in the atmosphere hit
the freezing point. The bottom line is that a bridge will follow the
air temperature very closely. If the air temperature falls below
freezing, a bridge's surface will fall below freezing very quickly.
Rain or snow, therefore, will freeze and stick to the bridge. This is
why the Ohio Department of Transportation applies salt brine to bridges and overpasses,
evident from the white lines you see on the pavement, ahead of freezing temperatures to
prevent icing.
Interstate 75 Reconstruction Project
For the most recent information concerning the Interstate 75 reconstruction project through Lima and
Allen County, and the safety upgrade of Ohio 117/309 on Lima’s east side please visit:
www.odotlima75.org

Interstate 75 between Fourth Street and Ohio 81 in Lima will have occasional nighttime lane
restrictions during reconstruction of the existing lanes of pavement, replacement of mainline bridges
and reconstruction of the interchanges. Work began in March 2013 and will continue through fall of
2015. Traffic is maintained two lanes in each direction the majority of the time. Lane restrictions
generally occur from 7 p.m. until 10 a.m. the following morning. The following is project information
for the coming week:
I-75 Mainline
-Construction of the noise walls along Interstate 75 between Ohio 117/309 and Reservoir Road is under way and
will continue through the winter. Construction is taking place on the east side of the interstate first.
-Traffic in both the northbound and southbound directions is now traveling on the new concrete pavement from
just south of Fourth Street to a point prior to the Ohio 117/309 interchange where traffic is then transitioned back
to the existing pavement.
- By mid December traffic on Interstate 75 will be traveling on new concrete pavement from just south of Fourth
Street to Reservoir Road and then be transitioned back to the existing pavement.
- Paving of asphalt in the median area between Ohio 81 and Stewart Road will continue. During paving
operations, traffic on Interstate 75 could be affected at times. Motorists are cautioned to watch for trucks entering
and exiting the highway as the operation continues.
-Embankment work between Ohio 81 and Reservoir is ongoing and will continue for the next several weeks.
Motorists are cautioned to watch for trucks entering and exiting the zone.
- Occasional nighttime lane closures will continue on Interstate 75 throughout the zone from Fourth Street to
Ohio 81 generally from 7 p.m. until approximately 10 a.m. the following day. Normal traffic patterns of two
lanes in each direction will resume during daytime hours.
- 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.
Ohio 117/309 interchange
- The southbound entrance and exit ramps to and from Interstate 75 closed October 7 and will remain closed
until mid December. The closure allows for the construction of the new ramps at the interchange and facilitates
construction of the Ohio 117/309 roadway itself. Traffic wishing to access Interstate 75 northbound or
southbound is directed to Ohio 117 east to Greely Chapel Road to Fourth Street. Interstate 75 southbound traffic
wishing to access Ohio 117/309 is directed to Fourth Street to Interstate 75 northbound back to Ohio 117/309.
- The entrance ramp from Ohio 117/309 to Interstate 75 northbound remains closed as well until mid December.
- The exit ramp from Interstate 75 northbound to Ohio 117/309 remains open. Traffic will be switched onto the
new ramp at some point next week. The traffic pattern will not change.
- Traffic on Ohio 117/309 remains one lane in each direction from the interchange to Willard Avenue
(Speedway). This traffic pattern will remain through mid December.
-Paving of concrete pavement is occurring in the area of the interchange. Motorists are cautioned to watch for
trucks entering and exiting the work zone.

Ohio 117/309 travel lanes, two in each direction, are now open from Ohio 117 to the Allen County
fairgrounds. Work will continue on seeding and traffic signals which will restrict traffic but only for short
periods of time. It is expected that by mid-November all orange traffic barrels will be removed from the
roadway.

Ohio 81 from just west of Stewart Road to just west of Neubrecht Road east of Lima is one lane in
each direction in the existing eastbound lanes for pavement reconstruction. The following are the
current traffic impacts:
- The Ohio 81 northbound entrance and exit ramps to and from Interstate 75 closed November 11 to allow for
paving of the new concrete pavement on Ohio 81. The ramps are expected to reopen on Saturday, November 16.
Traffic on Ohio 81 wishing to access I-75 northbound is directed to I-75 southbound to the Fourth Street
interchange to I-75 northbound. Northbound I-75 traffic wishing to access Ohio 81 is directed to the Bluelick
Road interchange, to I-75 southbound back to Ohio 81.
-On Sunday evening, November 17, the Interstate 75 southbound exit ramp to Ohio 81 will close for two weeks
for pavement work. Traffic will be directed south to the Fourth Street interchange to Interstate 75 northbound
back to Ohio 81.
-Traffic on Ohio 81 from just west of Stewart Road to just west of Neubrecht Road is maintained one lane in
each direction in the existing eastbound lanes during reconstruction and realignment of the existing roadway.
-Work on paving the new concrete pavement continues. It is anticipated that traffic will be traveling on the new
roadway by the end of the year.
-Traffic on Neubrecht Road approaching Ohio 81 has been switched onto the new pavement on the west side of
the roadway. No change in traffic pattern has resulted.
Allen County
Ohio 309 at the eastbound U.S. 30 entrance ramp near Delphos will have occasional lane restrictions
through the work zone during drainage work. The majority of the work will take place along the
roadside. Work is being performed by Platinum Painting Services, Boardman, Ohio.
Defiance County
U.S. 24 eastbound from just west of Defiance to just west of Adams Ridge Road will be reduced to
one lane through the work zone Wednesday through Friday of the week, weather permitting, for
sealing of pavement cracks. Work is being performed by the Defiance County ODOT maintenance
garage.
Ohio 66 bridge joint repair is complete.
Hancock County
There are no projects scheduled during the week which will significantly affect traffic.
Hardin County
Ohio 309 westbound between the Allen County line and Ohio 235 north will be one lane through the
work zone for sealing of pavement cracks. Work is being performed by the Hardin County ODOT
maintenance garage.
Ohio 701 drainge tile project has been postponed until spring of 2014.
Paulding County
Ohio 613 west of Payne is now open.
U.S. 24 ramps at Ohio 49 will be restricted through the work zone for berm repair. Work is being
performed by the Paulding County ODOT maintenance garage
U.S. 24 ramps at U.S. 127 will be restricted through the work zone for berm repair. Work is being
performed by the Paulding County ODOT maintenance garage.
Putnam County
The following locations will be reduced to one lane through the work zone for sealing of pavement
repair areas. Work is being performed by the Putnam County ODOT maintenance garage:
-U.S. 224 between the Van Wert County line and the village of Kalida
-Ohio 190 between Ohio 634 and U.S. 224
-Ohio 634 between Ohio 190 and U.S. 224
-Ohio 115 between Ohio 12 and U.S. 224
Ohio 694 at Township Road 21 drainage work is temporarily suspended. Work is expected to resume
within the next few weeks. The majority of the work is taking place along the roadside. Work is
being performed by Platinum Painting Services, Boardman, Ohio.
U.S. 224 from Ohio 65 to the corporation limit of Kalida is complete.
Van Wert County
Ohio 49 from Willshire to the Mercer County line will be reduced to one lane through the work zone
for sealing of pavement cracks. Work is being performed by the Van Wert County ODOT
maintenance garage.
U.S. 30 at various locations throughout Van Wert County will be restricted to one lane through the
work zone for pothole patching. Work is being performed by the Van Wert County ODOT
maintenance garage.
U.S. 127 between U.S. 224 and the Paulding County line will be reduced to one lane at times for the
installation of survey monuments. Traffic will be maintained with flaggers. Work is being performed
by the Shelly Company, Findlay.
Ohio 116 between Ohio 81 and Township Road 18 south of Converse closed November 13 for five
days for replacement of two culverts. Traffic detoured onto Ohio 81, Ohio 66 and Ohio 117 back to
Ohio 116. Work is being performed by the Van Wert County ODOT maintenance garage (see link to
map.)
Wyandot County
U.S. 23 southbound east of Upper Sandusky near Ohio 182, and both northbound and southbound
south of Ohio 103 north of Upper Sandusky will be restricted through the work zone for bridge deck
repair. The restrictions will likely occur in the middle of the week. Work is being performed by the
ODOT District 1 bridge department.
U.S. 23 drainage maintenance work at the eastern split with U.S. 30 at Upper Sandusky is under way.
Traffic may be restricted through the work zone at times. Work is being performed by Van Dam and
Associates, Hubbard.
Ohio 53 north of Upper Sandusky is now open but potential lane restrictions could occur at various
times. Work is being performed by Helms and Sons, Findlay.
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For more information contact:
Rhonda Pees, Public Information Officer, at (419) 999-6803
or email D01.PIO@dot.state.oh.us