4 days ago
6-state highway plan could relieve Route 23 pressure
A proposed six-state highway involving Ohio is meant to boost commerce and give vacationing Midwesterners a direct shot to Myrtle Beach.
Why it matters: The new route could help relieve Delaware County roads that are bursting at the seams.
Delaware is one of the fastest-growing counties in the country, and its main thoroughfare is dangerous and wildly over capacity.
The Ohio Department of Transportation plans to work on the stretch one way or another.
Driving the news: ODOT is conducting a $1.5 million feasibility study about a proposed Interstate 73-74-75 corridor spanning from northern Michigan to South Carolina's coast, reported this week.
The plan would create a new stretch of highway (I-73) between Findlay and Columbus, with a new bypass connecting Route 23 to I-71 north of Columbus.
Flashback: Various ideas for the interstate have been discussed for decades, largely spearheaded by leadership in the Carolinas.
Between the lines: The I-73/I-74/I-75 Corridor Association is led by Jimmy Gray, president of the Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce.
The vacation spot stands to benefit from a new route that would cut travel time by "hours" for those in Michigan and Ohio.
Zoom in: ODOT has been working for years to relieve pressure on Route 23, Delaware County's main road.
Last year, the department's Route 23 Connect Study found it has 30% more traffic than it was designed to accommodate, causing congestion, delays and crashes.
ODOT's action plan, released earlier this year, calls for $1.6 billion in improvements.
Yes, but: ODOT spokesperson Matt Bruning tells Axios that "doing something about US 23 is a separate issue from whether or not there's eventually an I-73."
The highway feasibility study will "give decision makers the information needed to determine what the next steps — if any — might be."
"US 23 has to be addressed regardless of other ideas and studies. Might there be overlap? Perhaps."
What they're saying: U.S. Rep. Dave Taylor (R-Ohio) introduced the resolution supporting ODOT's feasibility study and is a proponent of the interstate.
"An interstate through southern Ohio would not just help connect rural communities to the modern economy but would enhance our national security because of multiple key facilities and defense-related companies along the route," he said in a hearing.
