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Vol. XVIIII • No. 15
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Smart Mobility ODOT’s I-77 Bridge Replacement Corridor Enhances Project Tackles Obstacles, Progresses Communication By Lori Tobias CEG CORRESPONDENT
Thirty-five miles of highway in central Ohio are about to become a showcase for smart highway technology. Next year, contractors for the Ohio Department of Transportation are expected to complete the installation of the necessary technology, including Dedicated Short Range Communications Devices (DSRCs), along the 33 Smart Mobility Corridor, a 35-mi. stretch of U.S. 33 highway spanning Franklin, Logan and Union Counties between Dublin, Marysville and East Thirty-five miles of highway Liberty. in central Ohio are about to “The on-the-road become a showcase for infrastructure, when smart highway combined with other technology. automotive assets such as the Transportation Research Center and its off-the-road SMART Center, firmly establishes the 33 Smart Mobility Corridor as one of the national’s premier V2X proving grounds,” according to a press release from ODOT. V2X stands for vehicle to everything and is the technology that allows vehicles to communicate with other vehicles and traffic devices. It is heralded as the key to safer, more efficient highways for everyone. “The Smart Mobility Corridor will enable communications so we can constantly monitor how the traffic is performing on the roadway,” said ODOT’s Andrew Bremer, managing director of local affairs. “During snow and ice season, pieces of data that come to us from vehicles will give us a pretty clear indication of where there is black ice or an icy patch so that we would be able to spot treat that section of roadway. It also speaks to the reliability factor. Congestion is a relative term out there. We want to improve congestion, but see SMART page 2
The widening and reconstruction of the I-77 bridge is part of ODOT’s Cleveland Innerbelt Modernization Plan.
By Irwin Rapoport CEG CORRESPONDENT
As part of the Cleveland Urban Core Projects, the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) has what it calls the Cleveland Innerbelt Modernization Plan. One of the initiatives in the work is the widening and reconstruction of the I77 bridge over I-490 and the improvement of I-77 south of I-490 — a $25.6 million contract that was awarded to The Ruhlin Company. The ongoing I-77 work has not been easy, but the Ruhlin project team and crews are tackling any obstacles that come their way. The work will see the current I-77 bridge (one southbound and one northbound 420-ft.-long structures, two lanes in each direction) demolished and replaced with a 510-ft.-long bridge that has three lanes in each direction. The other road work includes 700 ft. of approach roads on either side of the new bridge, along with ramp roadway replacement and improvements.
The work started last October and is expected be completed in October or late fall of 2019. This project is being financed by state and federal funding. “This piece of the Innerbelt Modernization Plan will improve safety and add capacity on I-77 into and out of downtown Cleveland,” said Amanda McFarland, ODOT’s District 12 public information officer. “The planning began in 1997, however the work was put on hold as it was the alternate route for the Innerbelt Bridge reconstruction work. The area was a pinch point for north and southbound traffic prior to construction. Congestion-related crashes along this corridor will hopefully be solved by this project.” The old bridge was built in 1964 and carries 71,400 cars and trucks daily. The new bridge was designed by Richland Engineering Limited. “The bridge deck was reaching the end of its useful life,” said McFarland, “and would have been scheduled for replacement had this project not been in the works. The lifespan for the new bridge is 75 plus years. All new roads and see BRIDGE page 6