New Philadelphia city officials speaking at Monday’s Council meeting sounded supportive of the Ohio Department of Transportation’s plan for a major reconstruction of the I-77/U.S. Route 250/state Route 39 intersection.
ODOT officials presented the plans at an open house last week. They call for new ramps, access roads and two roundabouts, one at 39 and Blue Bell Drive, to improve traffic flow in that area.
Councilwoman Cheryl Ramos believes the improvements are needed.
“Kind of excited about the possibilities. We need some relief down there.”
City Service Director Ron McAbier suggested the project is years away as ODOT is only in the feedback gathering phase.
“Need to go down to a preferred plan that you send down to central office and say 2031, let’s get this done, and secure some funding. That’s what they want out of these meetings.”
There are nine points of construction, and McAbier says the project will be done in phases.
ODOT will collect public comments on its website through January 2nd before hosting another open house with a streamlined proposal in early spring.
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