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August 17 2024
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The entire project should wrap up by October 2027.
Despite a lack of access to the project and tight working conditions, crews in Ohio continue making progress on the $90 million I-70 reconstruction project. Phase 2 construction began last November and is scheduled to be completed by July 2025. “It’s very challenging to oversee a project of this size with the amount of activity that is going on and with the long project duration,” explained Michelle Sidwell, Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) District 5 project engineer. “However, we have a well-established, experienced inspection crew on this project, which greatly helps with managing and overseeing the project. “With the impact this project has on the traveling public and the city of Zanesville, it’s very rewarding to see work continuing and being completed.” Shelly & Sands serves as contractor on the project, where motorists are ever mindful of ongoing construction.
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“There are two lanes eastbound in contraflow,” said Sidwell. “The eastbound passing lane serves as an express lane and, once in it, you cannot exit until after the construction zone. Driving lane has access to downtown Zanesville. There are two lanes of westbound maintained with narrowed lanes. Traffic flow overall is good.” Milestones reached on the project include completion of Phase 1 work, which entailed full depth replacement of the outside lane and shoulder, both eastbound and westbound, as well as construction of median barrier wall and lighting and various bridge rehabilitation of each bridge within the project limits eastbound and westbound. In addition, the State Street overpass bridge is complete, along with Maple Avenue eastbound on ramp bridge work. Also finished are the Underwood eastbound on ramp, the Underwood westbound off ramp and the State Street eastbound on and off ramps. Sidwell noted that being responsible for a six-year under-
taking is not always easy, adding that one of the main challenges regarding the current phase of work is maintaining access to the eastbound on and off ramps through Zanesville. Work currently taking place includes bridge reconstruction on four structures and full depth pavement reconstruction. One bridge has already been reconstructed and another has been removed. Key Phase 2 tasks remaining include completing the Muskingum River Bridge and the 5th Street off ramp, which allows the contractor to close the 7th Street off ramp and gain access to two more bridges and the pavement section between them. Regarding bridge rehabilitation, out of eight structures that are being worked on in Phase 2, two are completed, one is 90 percent finished and the major Muskingum River bridge is at the halfway point. By the end of this construction season, a half-dozen bridges should be completed. see ODOT page 6