Ugly concrete barriers litter turnpike entrance, but not for long

by Sheldon Ocker

Motorists driving onto the Ohio Turnpike from Route 21 or I-77 in Richfield can’t help but notice thousands of construction barriers stacked in locations near the entrance ramp.

The barriers, utilized to divide multiple lane highways into open and closed lanes during repaving or reconstruction, are not resting near exit 173 as a turnpike anti-beautification program. It won’t be long until they are relocated to another construction site.

“There are approximately 8,000 portable concrete barriers at that site,’’ said Brian Newbacher, a public information officer for the Ohio Turnpike. “At the end of April, they will be used in our ongoing, two-year project to replace or restructure pavement between mile markers 168.7 and 176.5.’’

Mile marker 168.7 is about four miles east of I-71; mile marker 176.5 is almost four miles east of I-77. Much of the work was completed last year. According to Newbacher, the project will be done by October or November. Kokosing Construction, which is doing the work for the turnpike commission, owns the concrete barriers.

“When the project is finished, the barriers will be removed and the site restored to its former state,’’ Newbacher said.

Featured image photo caption: The Ohio Turnpike cloverleaf in Richfield was backfilled and barriers are being stored there. Photo by S. Serdinak