ODOT unveils discussion plans for I-271/I-71 interchange

by Melissa Martin

April 2 township trustees meeting

The Hinckley Township Board of Trustees recapped the most recent information available on the Interstate 271/71 interchange feasibility study, urging township residents to weigh in on several solutions being proposed by the state.

Late last year, officials from Ohio Department of Transportation District 3 secured funding to prepare the feasibility study on the movement of traffic from I-271 southbound to I-71 northbound, and I-71 southbound to I-271 northbound. Funding was sought based on inquiries from the public pertaining to the absence of connecting ramps at the I-71/I-271 interchange.

Currently, the most direct routes to make these connections are via state Route 3 (Ledge Road) and state Route 94 (Ridge Road) so funding was also obtained to study the congestion along state routes 3 and 94.

Trustees attended a meeting ODOT hosted for residents and local officials in late March during which ODOT officials proposed several solutions to better accommodate traffic near the interstates, including the installation of a roundabout at the intersection of Ridge and Ledge Roads.

Also being considered, trustees noted, are the addition of two additional roundabouts at the highway exits located at I-271 and Ridge Road and at I-71 and Weymouth Road, as well as a proposal to transform Remsen Road into a cul-de-sac so that motorists will no longer be able to access Ridge Road from Remsen Road.

“This is just their preliminary look at everything; it’s a feasibility study,” Trustee Jack Swedyk said, noting that funding has not been allocated for any of the projects to date. “If [ODOT makes] changes to the connections between 71 and 271, that may alleviate some of the problems they saw relative to intersections off the highway. So those roundabouts may [end up becoming] a moot point then because it eases up that congestion they are seeing.”

Trustees said ODOT’s website, transportation.ohio.gov, has several of the proposed interchange improvement scenarios posted for residents to review and is seeking input.

“We encourage everyone to take a look at it because it could impact your everyday life,” Swedyk said. ∞