Turnpike announces construction projects

National Work Zone Safety Awareness Week runs April 15-19

The Ohio Turnpike and Infrastructure Commission is urging motorists to be self-aware of dangerous behaviors behind the wheel — such as aggressive and distracted driving — especially in work zones to reduce crashes, according to a news release.

“Raising awareness of work zone safety to protect motorists and our maintenance and roadway crews during the nine-month highway construction season is a top priority,” said Chris Matta, chief engineer/deputy executive director for the Turnpike and Infrastructure Commission in the release. “By eliminating dangerous driving behaviors, most vehicle crashes are preventable.”

To protect roadway construction workers, the Turnpike and Infrastructure Commission is urging motorists to drive safely inand-around work zones by:

• Establishing a safe following distance

• Obeying the work zone speed limit (because of reduced lane widths, traffic lane shifts and narrow shoulders

• Avoiding distractions

• Paying attention to signs

• Being prepared to slow down or stop

This year, the turnpike commission has a budget of about $254 million for capital improvement projects across the 241-mile toll road, according to the release.

This figure includes nearly $238 million for projects beginning in 2024 and completing prior year projects, the release said.

More than $162 million of the 2024 capital plan is allocated for roadway and bridge projects.

About 92 lane miles of pavement will be resurfaced, the pavement at a toll plaza interchange will be reconstructed, and an extensive amount of work will be performed on 26 bridges.

“To limit delays for travelers on the Ohio Turnpike, we strive to maintain two lanes of traffic in all three lane sections of the turnpike during peak travel times,” Matta added. “Some single lane work zones will be necessary but will occur mostly during off-peak travel times or at night.”