Ohio 9, April 27, 2024

Eagle Bridge Co. Works On Final Leg of U.S. 35 Upgrade

By Cindy Riley

CORRESPONDENT

A $40 million project that will ease congestion, enhance traffic flow and improve safety along the corridor between Xenia and Beavercreek is under construction in Greene County, Ohio. Work began in early March 2023.

Contractors are maintaining traffic on the affected routes, using standard maintenance of traffic (MOT) practices to assure that delays to motorists are kept to a minimum.

“Most of the impacts to traffic on U.S. 35 are limited to single-lane closures during the evening and overnight hours,” said Fuller. “However, there have been some overnight, full closures in either direction for various phases of work that would include beam setting for the new overpass bridge and establishing the work zones on U.S. 35, as well as Valley Road and Trebein Road.

“It’s the final component of the longrange project to upgrade U.S. 35 between I75 at Dayton and I-64 at Charleston, W.Va.,” said Kathleen Fuller, public information officer of the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) District 8. “This project came to fruition after years of dedication and hard work by not only ODOT staff, but also the participation of representatives from local government agencies. The Greene County engineer’s office and Beavercreek Township administration were instrumental throughout the stages of project development, from initiation to the start of construction.”

photo

The primary equipment being used includes excavators, articulated dump trucks, dozers, sheep’s foot rollers, a crane with pile hammer and a water truck.

A $40 million project that will ease congestion, enhance traffic flow and improve safety along the corridor between Xenia and Beavercreek is under construction in Greene County, Ohio.

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Turnpike, Infrastructure Commission Announce 2024 Projects

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.

“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 commission. “By eliminating dangerous driving behaviors, most vehicle crashes are preventable.”

To protect roadway construction workers, the turnpike commission is urging motorists to drive safely in-and-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; and

• 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-mi. toll road. This figure includes nearly $238 million for projects beginning in 2024 and completing prior year projects.

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 said. “Some single lane work zones will be necessary but will occur mostly during off-peak travel times or at night.”

Here is the list of construction projects by county (west to east) in 2024:

Williams County

As part of the new toll collection system, which was implemented on April 10, 2024, the old Westgate Toll Plaza (milepost 2) in Williams County will be removed. The toll booths and toll lanes will be replaced with pavement. The work will be completed using phased maintenance of traffic with two lanes open in each direction during most of the work. The project runs from April 2024 to November 2024. In addition, pavement resurfacing from milepost 14 to milepost 27 will continue. The work will be completed from April 2024 to November 2024. Traffic will be reduced to one lane of travel during off-peak hours.

Fulton County

Toll Plaza 34 (Wauseon), which connects to state Route 108, in Fulton County was closed for pavement replacement on April 15, 2024, and will reopen on or before Aug. 24, 2024.

Additionally, four overhead bridges in Fulton County will close for construction. Township Road 22 bridge (milepost 27.3) will be raised; and Township Road 17 bridge (milepost 32.2), Township Road 12-1 bridge (milepost 37.1), and Township Road 3 bridge (milepost 46.4) will receive new concrete decks.

The work on the bridges is under way and is expected to be completed by November 2024. Motorists can follow the posted detour signs.

Lucas County

There will be one mainline pavement resurfacing project in Lucas County in 2024. All lanes and shoulders will be resurfaced from milepost 51 to milepost 55.

The project will be completed between May 2024 and November 2024.

Traffic will be reduced to one lane of travel during offpeak driving hours.

Sandusky County

Four bridge deck replacements and one bridge removal will occur in Sandusky County this year.

The mainline bridge over Waggoner Road at milepost 83.3 will be redecked, and the mainline bridge over the abandoned railroad at milepost 83.3 will be removed.

Two lanes of traffic will be maintained during the twoyear project, which runs from May 2024 to November 2025.

The overhead bridges at Fought Road (milepost 86.6), Shannon Road (milepost 93), Carley Road (milepost 94.7), and Northwest/Southwest Road (milepost 106.1) also will be redecked in 2024.

The construction period runs from May 2024 to November 2025.

These bridges will be closed with local detour signs for motorists to follow.

Erie County

Three bridge decks will be replaced in Erie County.

The Ohio Turnpike’s mainline bridge over Skadden Road/state Route 99 (milepost 111.2) will be redecked.

Two lanes of traffic will be maintained during the project, which runs from April 2024 to November 2024.

The overhead bridges at Township Road 102 (milepost 107.5) and Mudbrook Road/state Route 13 (milepost 119.3) will be closed and detoured for deck replacements. Construction is scheduled in 2024 and 2025.

Lorain County

Three bridge decks will be removed and replaced in Lorain County.

The onramp to Interstate 80 east at Toll Plaza 152 (North Olmsted-Cleveland) will close from April 17, 2024, to August 2024, to begin work on a mainline bridge at milepost 152.1 eastbound that runs above the onramp. The eastbound offramp on the Ohio Turnpike to Lorain Road (state Route 10) will remain open.

Motorists planning to travel eastbound on the Ohio Turnpike that normally enter from Lorain Road can follow the posted detour signs: Lorain Road north to I-480 east to I71 south to Toll Plaza 161 (Strongsville-Cleveland).

The Ohio Turnpike’s mainline bridge at milepost 152.3 eastbound over Lorain Road will be redecked as well. Two eastbound lanes on the mainline will be maintained during the project, which runs from April 2024 to November 2025.

The Bagley Road bridge that runs above the Ohio Turnpike at milepost 152.9 will close from April 29, 2024, through October 2024. Motorists can follow the posted detour signs.

Summit, Portage Counties

The bridge replacement project over Tinkers Creek at milepost 185.6 in Summit and Portage counties will continue this year. Construction will continue through 2024, and resume in 2025 and 2026. Two lanes of traffic will be maintained during the project.

Other projects this year in Portage County include concrete bridge deck replacements at the mainline bridge over state Route 43 (milepost 188.2) and the mainline bridge over Bryant Road/Township Road 236 (milepost 202.8).

The mainline bridge at N. Main St. (milepost 203.7) in Portage County, as part of its rehabilitation, will have a deck overlay performed to repair the concrete surface.

Two lanes of traffic will be maintained on the Ohio Turnpike mainline during the projects, which runs from April 2024 to November 2025.

Mahoning County

Bridge replacement, mainline resurfacing, and the completion of pavement work at Eastgate Toll Plaza (milepost 239) will occur in Mahoning County in 2024.

The overhead bridge at Boardman-Canfield Road/U.S. Route 224 (milepost 227.6) will be replaced during the 2024 and 2025 construction seasons. The existing bridge will be replaced in phases. Traffic will be maintained during the bridge replacement.

All eastbound and westbound lanes and shoulders will be resurfaced from milepost 230 to milepost 236. Traffic will be reduced to one lane of travel on the mainline during off- peak driving hours. Resurfacing will take place from May 2024 through November 2024.

Additionally, modifications to Eastgate Toll Plaza and related pavement work will be completed during the 2024 construction season. This includes the construction of the open road tolling lanes for westbound traffic. 

Eagle’s Contract Includes Building Interchange, Roadwork

Additionally, full closures on both Valley Road and Trebein Road have been necessary for storm sewer installation; otherwise, traffic has been maintained on these routes with flaggers during daytime hours of operation.

In the 2017 Highway Safety Improvement Plan, the intersection of U.S. 35 with Valley Road and Trebein Road rated 105th in the state for suburban intersections for crashes from 2013-2017. Although improvements such as additional signage and flashing signage were made to address concerns, safety issues persisted, primarily due to congestion on the heavily traveled route.

Along with state and federal funding from the Transportation Review Advisory Council (TRAC), local funding commitments have totaled 20 percent of the construction costs. In addition, Beavercreek Township negotiated a land donation in the amount of $820,000 to move the project forward.

According to Dan Mendel, senior construction engineer, there are always construction challenges with largescale projects, and the U.S. 35/Valley-Trebein interchange project is no exception.

“The volume of project work is large, with a limited duration. The construction of a new interchange with the layout of U.S. 35 at-grade intersection with Valley-Trebein roads and the Little Miami River running parallel to Valley-Trebein roads requires multiple phases. Access to work sites within each phase can be tough. In addition, the project consists of building two new bridges — one over U.S. 35 and one over the Little Miami River. This can be difficult while maintaining traffic on U.S. 35 and both ValleyTrebein roads.

“Two of the greater challenges we’ve encountered were at the start of construction,” said Mendel. “There were more than 700 trees that had to be removed in a very short period of time due to environmental requirements. Trees were removed over a twoweek period during a very wet spring last year, and

many of the trees were located within environmentally sensitive areas. Also, there was Little Miami River flooding and local area flooding during spring 2023.”

The Eagle Bridge Company was awarded a contract to build the interchange and complete other roadway improvements. Mendel said the contractor has extensive experience and an impressive track record constructing bridges throughout southwest Ohio.

“The company’s focus is constructing quality work with minimal conflict, and it has shown with this project during our first year of construction. ODOT also is working with two construction and engineering firms, WSP Inc. and American Structurepoint, which are providing consultation and inspection services, and both have been valuable to the total-team effort.”

Mendel said a majority of the new interchange footprint is in place, including embankment and the bridge over U.S. 35. New asphalt pavement on the south side of the new bridge (Valley Road) has been placed, and the U.S. 35 bridge has all

the support substructure constructed, which includes the abutment ends and the center pier.

“This bridge uses concrete beams to span U.S. 35,” Mendel explained. “These are in place and will support the new bridge deck. The new bridge deck is currently in the forming stage. The project uses mechanically stabilized earth [MSE] walls to hold back bridge abutment embankments, as well as off ramp embankments and are complete. The bridge over the Little Miami River, which will carry interchange ramp traffic, has one abutment and one pier of two completed.”

Approximately 290,000 cu. yds. of dirt will be moved during construction, which is a combination of embankment and excavation. The dirt comes from two off-site borrow areas.

Early site work involved excessive undercutting of poor foundational soils and stabilizing with rock and geofabric. The poor foundation soils were under new interchange embankment and all mechanically stabilized earth walls.

The primary equipment being used includes excavators, articulated dump trucks, dozers, sheep’s foot rollers, a crane with pile hammer and a water truck. Materials include soil, various aggregates, steel tube piling, reinforcing steel, concrete and plastic and concrete storm sewer pipe.

Regarding the elements, “As expected, the weather has had an effect at various times since construction began, and any delays have been typical for the area,” said Mendel. “These delays have not been excessive, and any lost days due to weather have been within the normal expected range.”

All work is expected to be completed in 2025.

“Overall, construction has progressed extremely well, and we are pleased with the progress that has been made thus far,” said Mendel. “It’s extremely rewarding to work on projects that are close to home, and that will make a positive difference in the transportation system, especially once you see how the final product will improve the area.”

EAGLE from page 1

ODOT photo

The Eagle Bridge Company was awarded a contract to build the interchange and complete other roadway improvements.

ODOT photo

Beavercreek Township negotiated a land donation in the amount of $820,000 to move the project forward.

ODOT Invests $2.8B in Infrastructure Projects This Year

The Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) is kicking off another record construction season, investing $2.8 billion into 950 road and bridge improvement projects across the state. There are 39 projects classified as “major projects” with a value above $10 million.

“Investing in efficient infrastructure is an investment in quality of life,” said Gov. Mike DeWine. “Once complete, these projects will significantly reduce traffic congestion and improve roadway safety.”

This year’s construction program also includes 176 safety projects and laying nearly 5,700 mi. of pavement — enough to pave a two-lane road from New York City to Los Angeles. Projects will repair or replace 885 bridges in the state.

“While the orange barrels that are synonymous with summer may be a source of frustration and inconvenience for some, they are a sign of progress and improvement for all who live in Ohio and who travel through it,” said ODOT Director Jack Marchbanks.

Project Highlights

Northwest Ohio

• I-75/County Road 99 diverging diamond interchange in Hancock County

• U.S. 68/SR 15 interchange reconfiguration in Hancock County

Northeast Ohio

• I-76/I-77 Akron Beltway reconstruction in Summit County

• SR 8 Hi-Level Bridge replacement in Summit County

• SR 46/SR 82 diverging diamond interchange in Trumbull County

• SR 21 rehabilitation in Wayne County

• I-90 pavement replacement in Cuyahoga County

Central Ohio

• I-70 Reconstruction in Muskingum County

• I-70/I-71 Downtown Ramp Up in Franklin County

• SR 435 improvements in Fayette County

Southwest Ohio

• I-75 major reconstruction – Dayton

• I-75 major reconstruction - Moraine

• SR 32/Brooks-Malott safety improvement project in Brown County

Southeast Ohio

• U.S. 33 concrete pavement repair in Meigs County

• SR 7 reconstruction in Monroe County 

ODOT is kicking off another record construction season, investing $2.8 billion into 950 road and bridge improvement projects across the state. ODOT graphic

ODOT photo