6-state highway plan could relieve Route 23 pressure
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A proposed six-state highway involving Ohio is meant to boost commerce and give vacationing Midwesterners a direct shot to Myrtle Beach.
Why it matters: The new route could help relieve Delaware County roads that are bursting at the seams.
- Delaware is one of the fastest-growing counties in the country, and its main thoroughfare is dangerous and wildly over capacity.
- The Ohio Department of Transportation plans to work on the stretch one way or another.
Driving the news: ODOT is conducting a $1.5 million feasibility study about a proposed Interstate 73-74-75 corridor spanning from northern Michigan to South Carolina's coast, Cleveland.com reported this week.
- The plan would create a new stretch of highway (I-73) between Findlay and Columbus, with a new bypass connecting Route 23 to I-71 north of Columbus.
Flashback: Various ideas for the interstate have been discussed for decades, largely spearheaded by leadership in the Carolinas.
Between the lines: The I-73/I-74/I-75 Corridor Association is led by Jimmy Gray, president of the Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce.
- The vacation spot stands to benefit from a new route that would cut travel time by "hours" for those in Michigan and Ohio.
Zoom in: ODOT has been working for years to relieve pressure on Route 23, Delaware County's main road.
- Last year, the department's Route 23 Connect Study found it has 30% more traffic than it was designed to accommodate, causing congestion, delays and crashes.
- ODOT's action plan, released earlier this year, calls for $1.6 billion in improvements.
Yes, but: ODOT spokesperson Matt Bruning tells Axios that "doing something about US 23 is a separate issue from whether or not there's eventually an I-73."
- The highway feasibility study will "give decision makers the information needed to determine what the next steps — if any — might be."
- "US 23 has to be addressed regardless of other ideas and studies. Might there be overlap? Perhaps."
What they're saying: U.S. Rep. Dave Taylor (R-Ohio) introduced the resolution supporting ODOT's feasibility study and is a proponent of the interstate.
- "An interstate through southern Ohio would not just help connect rural communities to the modern economy but would enhance our national security because of multiple key facilities and defense-related companies along the route," he said in a hearing.
Reality check: The project is not yet a done deal.
- Millions in funding would still need to be allocated in Ohio and other states.
What's next: ODOT's feasibility study will wrap up by the end of 2026.