April 9: Recovery Act Funding Spurs Infrastructure Improvements

The 2010 program also includes an $89.5 million project toimprove safety and reduce congestion at the I-75/I-475 interchange in central Toledo. The project willwiden I-475 to three lanes in each direction. Scheduled to begin this summer, the project is scheduled to be completedin 2013.

The "Fort to Port" project on U.S. Route 24 will involveconstruction of a four-lane, divided highway in Lucas and Henry counties thisyear. Due to open in the summer of 2012,the final three phases of the project will complete a vital link from the port of Toledoto Fort Wayne, Indiana.

An $8.9 million project will widen Wheeling Street, including the bridgeover I-280, in LucasCounty. Scheduled completion date is December 2011.

And, the DiSalle Bridge over I-75 in Lucas Countywill be redecked at a cost of $10.2 million. This is also a Recovery Act-funded project.

The ODOT program also includes three projects in OttawaCounty, including the repair of four bridges on State Routes 19 and 590 at acost of $842,000; replacement of a culvert on State Route 53, just north of theSandusky-Ottawa County line, at a cost of $245,000; and repair on the PortClinton Lift Bridge ($161,000), which will be closed to masted navigationthrough April.