Schaffer Applauds Funding for Three Roadway Projects Benefitting Fairfield County
September 24, 2021
Tim Schaffer News
COLUMBUS—State Senator Tim Schaffer (R-Lancaster) praised the approval of funds for two Fairfield County projects and a third in Franklin County that were accepted by the Ohio Transportation Review Advisory Council (TRAC) at its monthly meeting earlier this week.
Among the projects approved Wednesday, approximately $79.4 million in funding was approved for ramp construction and improvement to Interstate-270 south bound and Interstate-70 interchange, the interchange at U.S. 33-Pickerington Road, and an interchange improvement at Taylor Road and Interstate-70.
“I have kept a close eye on the U.S. 33 and I-70 transportation corridors in Fairfield County for more than 25 years as both a private commuter and a state legislator,” Schaffer said. “I am excited to see these critical roadway improvement projects move forward. Wednesday was a major step in offering much needed relief to commuters, residents, and businesses in Fairfield County and improving public safety.”
The U.S. 33-Pickerington Road project received approximately $1.4 million. The new funding will go toward preliminary engineering and detailed design phases of the project. The project will also make U.S. 33 a more limited access highway.
Improvements to the interchange at Interstate 70-Taylor Road received $5 million to move forward with the preliminary engineering phase of the project. Once completed, this interchange will relieve traffic congestion for commuters in northern Fairfield County and Interstate-70.
A third project in the Far-East I-70 highway system received $73 million in funding and will improve safety of commuters traveling eastbound on Interstate 70, including residents in Fairfield, Muskingum and Guernsey Counties. Schaffer said the traffic back-ups during rush hour of vehicles waiting on southbound I-270 to exit east on I-70 have become very dangerous as population has increased.
“I have seen this traffic at a stand-still for miles,” Schaffer said. “And I have known people personally who have been injured and family of those killed as highway speed traffic encounters the stopped traffic. I thank ODOT and TRAC for prioritizing this stretch of interstate for immediate improvement. This project will save lives.”
“I have kept a close eye on the U.S. 33 and I-70 transportation corridors in Fairfield County for more than 25 years as both a private commuter and a state legislator,” Schaffer said. “I am excited to see these critical roadway improvement projects move forward. Wednesday was a major step in offering much needed relief to commuters, residents, and businesses in Fairfield County and improving public safety.”
The U.S. 33-Pickerington Road project received approximately $1.4 million. The new funding will go toward preliminary engineering and detailed design phases of the project. The project will also make U.S. 33 a more limited access highway.
Improvements to the interchange at Interstate 70-Taylor Road received $5 million to move forward with the preliminary engineering phase of the project. Once completed, this interchange will relieve traffic congestion for commuters in northern Fairfield County and Interstate-70.
A third project in the Far-East I-70 highway system received $73 million in funding and will improve safety of commuters traveling eastbound on Interstate 70, including residents in Fairfield, Muskingum and Guernsey Counties. Schaffer said the traffic back-ups during rush hour of vehicles waiting on southbound I-270 to exit east on I-70 have become very dangerous as population has increased.
“I have seen this traffic at a stand-still for miles,” Schaffer said. “And I have known people personally who have been injured and family of those killed as highway speed traffic encounters the stopped traffic. I thank ODOT and TRAC for prioritizing this stretch of interstate for immediate improvement. This project will save lives.”