Displaying items by tag: Ohio Department of Transportation

Winter appears to be far from over as we in Northeast Ohio were brutally reminded this week. 

One hopeful sign that perhaps the worst is behind us: the National Weather Service's Winter Weather Advisory expiration was moved up from 8 p.m. Wednesday to 4 p.m. and forecasters call for the snow to taper off by mid-afternoon. 

But that doesn't mean the cold is going anywhere. The high temperature for Wednesday is only 27* and was already reached by noon. Factor in the wind chill and some areas could be hit with what feels like -2*, according to the National Weather Service. 

Road conditions progressively got better throughout the morning commute Wednesday, but Brent Kovacs with ODOT tells the Ray Horner Morning Show that trucks will continue to treat the roadways overnight into early Thursday morning to prevent any freezing when temperatures continue to drop. 

For those who may not have anywhere to go when the cold bites as it has this week, Haven of Rest Ministries reminds all residents that their doors are open. They have enacted "Code Zero" and are accomodating their facility at 175 E. Market Street. 

The next big highway construction project in Akron will involve the Central Interchange...with a new $40 million project that'll handle the work in pieces.

It's the early phase for a project that should get underway in about five years.

ODOT's Justin Chesnic says one key proposal is to make the left-hand exit ramps at the Central Interchange safer.

"If you're coming I-76 west and want to go to I-77 south, those left hand ramps," Chesnic says, "this project that we're proposing to do here a few years down the line will improve those ramps, lengthen those ramps and increase the speed on those ramps."

That'd also improve the left-hand ramp from I-76 east to Route 8 north.

Chesnic says the new Central Interchange project is already funded, and would follow the current work on 76/77 near Main and Broadway.

A public meeting will be held to get input on the latest plan, October 27th at Glover Community Learning Center on Hammel Street.

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(Ohio Department of Transportation, news release) The Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) is in the early stages of developing a road construction project to improve the I-76/I-77/SR-8 Central Interchange in Akron. ODOT will conduct an open house public involvement meeting to present the feasible alternative designs for the project.

The public involvement meeting will be Thursday, October 27, 2016, from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM at the Glover Community Learning Center cafeteria located at 935 Hammel Street, Akron, Ohio. The public involvement meeting will be conducted in an open house format with no formal presentation. Attendees may arrive anytime between 5:00 PM and 7:00 PM.

Mapping, exhibits, and preliminary plan information will be displayed. Throughout the open house, representatives of the ODOT project team will be available to discuss the feasible alternatives, potential impacts of the proposed project, and address any questions and concerns.

The proposed project involves safety, congestion and infrastructure condition improvements in the I-76/I-77/SR-8 Central Interchange. The project is a result of a detailed analysis of the Akron freeway system that examined traffic flow, infrastructure condition, and other issues. Construction of this estimated $40 million project is expected to begin in 2021.

The following improvements are proposed:

· Change the curve of the ramps for I-76 east to SR-8 north and I-76 west to I-77 south to allow for faster vehicle speeds.

· Modify the ramp from I-76 west to SR-8 north.

· Adjust I-76 westbound within the Central Interchange because of the ramp changes.

· Removal of the I-76 westbound exit ramp to Inman Street / Johnston Street.

· Removal of the I-77 southbound exit ramp to Lovers Lane.

· The Lafollette Street Bridge over I-77 is proposed to be replaced with a new, longer bridge at the same location, removed and not replaced, or removed and replaced with a new bridge over I-77 at Kipling Street.

Comments may be submitted in the following four ways:

· Spoken or submitted in person during the open house public involvement meeting

· By phone to Robert Lang, ODOT District 4 Environmental Specialist, at 330-786-4975

· By email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

· By mail to:

Edward W. Deley, Jr., Environmental Coordinator

Ohio Department of Transportation - District 4

2088 S. Arlington Road

Akron, OH 44306-4243

The final date to submit comments is Friday, November 25, 2016.

If you are unable to attend the public involvement meeting, the meeting materials will be available for review at ODOT District 4, 2088 South Arlington Road, Akron.

Additional project information, including the public involvement meeting handout and displays, will be available on the ODOT District 4 website: www.dot.state.oh.us/districts/d04 by selecting the "Public Meetings/Public Involvement" heading on the left side menu. Project information can also be found on the ODOT District 4 Facebook page (www.facebook.com/ODOTD4) and the ODOT District 4 Twitter feed (@ODOT_Akron)

A summary of public comments received during the public comment period and responses to those comments will be available by request and posted on the ODOT District 4 website by December 23, 2016.

The environmental review, consultation, and other actions required by applicable Federal environmental laws for this project are being, or have been, carried-out by ODOT pursuant to 23 U.S.C. 327 and a Memorandum of Understanding dated December 11, 2015, and executed by FHWA and ODOT. In compliance with Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, as amended (codified as 36 CFR 800), ODOT also requests information regarding the presence of any known cultural resources in the vicinity of the project. Cultural resources include prehistoric and historic archaeological sites, historic bridges, historic buildings, sites and districts.

For questions related to traffic or project design, contact ODOT Project Manager Lorie Feudner, P.E. at 330-786-4810 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Questions involving environmental issues should be directed to Robert Lang, ODOT Environmental Specialist, at 330-786-4975 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

ODOT video showing a minivan slowing down on I-77 southbound after it was shot on the highway early Wednesday morning near the Pro Football Hall of Fame is out; the grainy footage shows the vehicle coming to a stop, followed by traffic moving around it and a trooper's vehicle coming to the scene.

The woman driving the Kia minivan around 3:45 a.m. was struck in the hand and grazed in the head after multiple gunshots targeted her car. She pulled over then fled the scene and sought assistance in a nearby home. She was taken to a local hospital for non-life threatening injuries, reported the Ohio State Highway Patrol. 

Police say it appeared the woman was targeted in the attack. 

FULL VIDEO at the Canton Repository coverage

UPDATE: The closure of I-76 westbound is taking place this weekend, despite the rain.

ODOT tells WAKR.net that workers are doing a different kind of construction this weekend, one that can be done rain or shine.

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(Original coverage) The closure of I-76 westbound that was delayed is expected to happen this weekend, weather permitting.

Starting Friday night at 8:00 PM, I-76 westbound will be closed between the Central Interchange and the Route 59 innerbelt for bridge deck overlays and bridge repairs through 6:00 AM Monday morning. The detour will be I-77 southbound to I-277/224 westbound to the Kenmore Leg northbound.

Several ramps will also be closed as well.

The ramp from 77 northbound to to 76 westbound will be CLOSED. The detour will be I-277/224 westbound to I-76 eastbound/Kenmore Leg northbound OR Route 8 northbound to the Route 59 innerbelt.

The ramp from Route 8 southbound to 76 westbound will be CLOSED. The detour will be I-77 southbound to I-277/224 westbound to I-76 eastbound/Kenmore Leg northbound.

The ramp from South Main Street to 76 westbound will be CLOSED. The detour will be South Main Street to I-277/224 westbound to I-76 eastbound/Kenmore Leg northbound.

The ramp from Broadway Street to 76 westbound will be CLOSED. The detour will be Broadway Street to Thornton Street to Main Street to I-277/224 westbound to I-76 eastbound/Kenmore Leg northbound

The National Weather Service says get ready for the snow.

There's a Winter Weather Advisory now up for most of Northeast Ohio, including the Akron/Canton area, from 3 AM until noon on Tuesday.

The NWS says one to two inches of snow by daybreak - the heaviest snow during the morning commute - will combine with 20 to 30 mile per hour winds to reduce visibilities and make driving potentionally hazardous.

That also means ODOT is in action.

The state department of transportation says it'll have 20 trucks each out in Stark and Summit Counties, and 16 in Portage County, starting on Tuesday morning.

Roads haven't yet been pretreated, due to residual salt on the roads after Sunday's storm.

But during the upcoming storm, ODOT says its crews will be using "salt and various liquids" meant to make the salt work better in colder temperatures.

URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CLEVELAND OH
344 PM EST MON JAN 11 2016

...THE COLD AND THE SNOW CONTINUE...

.A LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM WILL MOVE ACROSS THE CENTRAL LAKES TUESDAY
DRAGGING ANOTHER COLD FRONT ACROSS THE FORECAST AREA.

OHZ003-006>011-017>023-027>033-036>038-047-120445-
/O.NEW.KCLE.WW.Y.0001.160112T0800Z-160112T1700Z/
LUCAS-WOOD-OTTAWA-SANDUSKY-ERIE OH-LORAIN-CUYAHOGA-HANCOCK-SENECA-
HURON-MEDINA-SUMMIT-PORTAGE-TRUMBULL-WYANDOT-CRAWFORD-RICHLAND-
ASHLAND-WAYNE-STARK-MAHONING-MARION-MORROW-HOLMES-KNOX-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...TOLEDO...BOWLING GREEN...PORT CLINTON...
FREMONT...SANDUSKY...LORAIN...CLEVELAND...FINDLAY...TIFFIN...
NORWALK...MEDINA...AKRON...RAVENNA...WARREN...UPPER SANDUSKY...
CAREY...BUCYRUS...MANSFIELD...ASHLAND...WOOSTER...CANTON...
YOUNGSTOWN...MARION...MOUNT GILEAD...MILLERSBURG...MOUNT VERNON
344 PM EST MON JAN 11 2016

...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 3 AM TO NOON EST
TUESDAY...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN CLEVELAND HAS ISSUED A WINTER
WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SNOW AND BLOWING SNOW...WHICH IS IN EFFECT
FROM 3 AM TO NOON EST TUESDAY.

* TIMING...SNOW WILL DEVELOP OVERNIGHT...WITH 1 TO 2 INCHES OF
  SNOW EXPECTED BY DAYBREAK. SOME OF THE HEAVIEST SNOW IS EXPECTED
  TO OCCUR DURING THE MORNING COMMUTE.

* MAIN IMPACT...SNOW COMBINED WITH WINDS OF 20 TO 30 MPH WILL
  PRODUCE BLOWING SNOW WHICH WILL REDUCE VISIBILITIES AND CREATE
  HAZARDOUS DRIVING CONDITIONS.

* WINDS...WEST 15 TO 25 MPH WITH GUSTS 30 MPH.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

THE COMBINATION OF SNOW AND BLOWING SNOW WILL CREATE HAZARDOUS
DRIVING CONDITIONS FOR THE MORNING COMMUTE TUESDAY. STAY TUNED TO
NOAA WEATHER RADIO FOR FURTHER DETAILS OR UPDATES.

(ODOT District 4, news release) ODOT District 4 is ready for the winter weather in Portage, Stark and Summit counties starting Tuesday morning. Crews have not pre-treated the roads with salt due to residual salt left on the roads from yesterday's storm. During the storm, crews will be using salt and various liquids to coat the salt to increase its efficiency during colder temperatures. Please see the below specific information on how many trucks will be plowing in each county.

Portage County – 16 trucks
Stark County – 20 trucks
Summit County- 20 trucks

Everyone can 'KNO B4 U GO' by checking ODOT's website www.Ohgo.com for up-to-date road and weather conditions, along with traffic speeds and traffic cameras.
And our best advice...In Ice and Snow, Take it Slow! & Don't Crowd the Plows

(ODOT District 4, news release) ODOT District 4 is ready for the winter weather in Portage, Stark and Summit counties starting Tuesday morning. Crews have not pre-treated the roads with salt due to residual salt left on the roads from yesterday's storm. During the storm, crews will be using salt and various liquids to coat the salt to increase its efficiency during colder temperatures. Please see the below specific information on how many trucks will be plowing in each county.

Portage County – 16 trucks
Stark County – 20 trucks
Summit County- 20 trucks

Everyone can 'KNO B4 U GO' by checking ODOT's website www.Ohgo.com for up-to-date road and weather conditions, along with traffic speeds and traffic cameras.
And our best advice...In Ice and Snow, Take it Slow! & Don't Crowd the Plows