Construction begins on state Route 315 in a couple of weeks and it will change the traffic pattern for tens-of-thousands of commuters. Now is the time to plan your alternate routes.
By Marshall McPeek
Meteorologist, Anchor, Reporter
Published: June 2, 2009
COLUMBUS, Ohio—Construction begins on state Route 315 in a couple of weeks and it will change the traffic pattern for tens-of-thousands of commuters.
The Ohio Department of Transportation plans to shut down the north bound lanes from Goodale Boulevard to Ackerman Road. All the traffic will be moved to the southbound lanes with one lane moving in each direction.
Nearly all of the northbound and southbound entrance ramps will be closed in the construction area.
All but two exit ramps will stay open.
Only the Medical Center and north-bound Ackerman off-ramps will close.
NBC 4 did some timing today. The project will begin after OSU’s commencement Sunday, June 14.
To get from I-670 to Ackerman Road takes just about four minutes. But the 670 East to 315 north ramp will be closed during the construction. An alternate route is to take I-70 east to 315 north, get off at Goodale Boulevard, before the construction, then take Olentangy River Road up to Ackerman Road.
That route takes nearly 14 minutes. More than triple the time.
And it does not include the additional delays for rush-hour congestion.
For example, near the Lennox Town Cener, Olentangy River Road narrows to just one lane where it rounds the curve near Herrick Drive. At the height of rush hour, expect long delays there.
Andrew Orton, the Assistant General Manager at Champps Americana Restaurant in the Lennox Center, is thankful that his work schedule may keep his commute from being too atrocious.
“Luckily for me, I come in at 6 o’clock in the morning,“ he says. He’s also trying to be optimistic. He hopes the construction will be good for the businesses in the area because there will be more traffic will be on the surface streets.
Champps Bartender Laura Roberts says she expects the construction will add about 15 to 20 minutes to her commute from Lewis Center. And she, too, has already thought about an alternate route.
“I’m hoping it won’t be too bad,“ she says. “I’ll just be getting off a couple of exits early and take Olentangy River all the way down, which I’m sure a lot of people will be doing, so that might make it a little
difficult.“
When you are preparing your alternate route, the internet can be an invaluable tool.
<>and Mapquest will create directions from your house to your office. They will also create alternate routes that avoid highways, calculate the new mileage and even estimate the new driving time. You can even change your route manually. But the websites can not predict how congestion and driver confusion will slow things down.
These exit ramps are set to close:
S. R. 315 NB – King Avenue exit/Medical Center Drive
S. R. 315 NB – Ackerman exit
These entrance ramps are set to close:
S. R. 315 SB – Olentangy River Road (near North Broadway)
S. R. 315 SB – North Broadway from West North Broadway
S. R. 315 SB – Ackerman Road
S. R. 315 SB – Lane Avenue
S. R. 315 SB – 12th Street (from OSU Medical Center)
S. R. 315 SB – Goodale Boulevard (across from White Castle)
S. R. 315 SB – Olentangy River Road (Lennox Town Center)
S. R. 315 SB – Lane Avenue
ENTRANCE AND EXIT CLOSING MAP
A special ODOT Web site will keep drivers updated. The site—http://www.buckeyetraffic.org/315—will feature interactive maps, current information, traffic advisories, detours and general project information.
For additional information, stay with nbc4i.com and NBC 4 and refresh nbc4i.com—Where Accuracy Matters.
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