Ohio is receiving a $61 million boost in funding to improve safety on the roadways. Franklin County is one of 16 counties receiving funding, and they are building the first pedestrian bridge over the Interstate 270 outerbelt.
The funding is part of the Ohio Department of Transportation's (ODOT) Highway Safety Improvement Plan. This plan includes 17 new roundabouts, restricted U-turns, new sidewalks and the first-of-its-kind pedestrian overpass over I-270 with the goal of improving safety.
"Safe roadways are essential to connecting people and businesses across Ohio,” Gov. Mike DeWine's office said in a prepared release. “With the investments made in these projects, we will help save countless lives on Ohio’s roads.”
The planned pedestrian overpass is proposed just south of, and parallel to, the Hilliard Cemetery Road bridge. It would span the entire width of the outerbelt and median, connecting Hilliard's gateway on the west to the the Mill Run corridor to the east.
The bridge and multi-use trail would have one crossing with vehicle traffic at the northbound 270 ramp to Hilliard Cemetery Road. Hilliard officials are considering building a tunnel under the ramp.
The city has committed $1.5 million toward the project with $3 million from ODOT's safety funding and $7 million from the Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission.
The project has a price tag of $11.5 million.
------------------------------------------------------
Source: MSN.com
