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ODOT West Side Construction Plans

Updated: Thursday, March 14 2013, 07:47 PM EDT
COLUMBUS - Big changes are coming to one of the most congested interchanges in Franklin County.

Lanes and new traffic signals will be added to the I-70/Hilliard-Rome Road interchange, beginning this spring.

Two additional lanes will be added to the ramp from I-70 west to Hilliard-Rome Road north.

Instead of cars and trucks stopping and waiting to exit as traffic flows northbound on Hilliard-Rome Road, the additional lanes will accommodate some of the overflow.

A traffic signal at the end of the ramp will reduce weaving or jockeying for position as drivers shoot across several lanes on Hilliard-Rome Road to turn left at Renner Road.

ODOT expects this phase to be finished by July.

More improvements are planned next year:

• An additional lane in each direction on Hilliard-Rome Road north of Renner, extending to the Meijer driveway to reduce congestion and back-ups down the entrance ramps to I-70.

• The I-70 west to Hilliard Rome Road south exit will be realigned to a “T” intersection with a traffic signal to reduce weaving between motorists exiting and those traveling south on Hilliard Rome Road.