Stay Informed: Rt. 256 Project

State Rt. 256 from I-70 to Refugee Road will undergo a major transformation to help it handle daily traffic, which usually approaches 35,000 vehicles.

The construction will be the result of a $5 million grant awarded to Pickerington by the Ohio Department of Transportation.

“Relieving congestion will not only create a new level of safety, but it will also help business development throughout the corridor,” City Engineer Greg Bachman said.

The upgrade is needed. For years, the stretch of Rt. 256 has been listed by ODOT as one of the 100 most crash-prone non-freeway corridors in Ohio. Most of that has been due to congestion, Bachman said.

The extensive project will actually cost $5.5 million. The $500,000 not covered by ODOT will be supplemented by the city’s general fund.

Plans call for myriad changes going north. An additional lane of traffic will be installed at the north- bound Rt. 256 approach to state Rt. 204, providing three through lanes and one left turn lane for that approach. Past Rt. 204, the pattern will see four lanes accepting four lanes at the I-70 eastbound ramp.

“At any given time, the area will have the capability to handle up to 50 percent more traffic,” Bachman explained. He added that two sets of overhead signs will alert motorists of upcoming traffic patterns well before the interstate.

Southbound lanes will increase in front of the Marcus Cinemas, creating three through lanes all of the way from I-70 to Refugee Road.

Plans now call for work to begin in early 2015. The work should be completed in nine months.

“During construction, we will keep two through lanes open in the direction of peak travel. That is, northbound in the morning, and southbound in the evening. We ask motorists to use alternate routes as much as possible until work is completed.” Bachman said.