Ohio Department of Transportation

The Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) is the organization in charge of developing and maintaining all state and federal roadways in the state of Ohio with exception of the Ohio Turnpike.

ODOT has broken up the state of Ohio into 12 districts in order to facilitate regional development. Each district is responsible for managing the planning and construction of the regions state and federal highways.

History

The Ohio Department of Highways began operations on February 15, 1905. The original office consisted of 4 employees and an annual budget of $10,000. Its mission was to study the state roads and the science of road construction.

The Department of Highways created the first Ohio State Highway Patrol in an attempt to reduce the amount of automobile-related fatalities in 1933. By the end of the year the first of the patrolmen are on duty.

By 1947 the Ohio Department of Highways was constructing new roads at a record pace. They awarded 422 contracts, spending $38 million on new construction and $4 million on maintenance. This marked the highest amount spent on road construction by Ohio than all years previous.

After seeing the Autobahn and the rail system in Germany first-hand, General Dwight D. Eisenhower realized the advantage of a nationwide roadway system. On June 29, 1956 President Eisenhower signed the Federal Aid Highway Act into law, designating highways for each state to build with federal assistance to create the modern interstate highway system. This act called for over 41,000 miles of new roadway to be built over the coming years and decades. Later in 1956 The Ohio General Assembly passed a bill making the state speed limit 60 mph and increased the power of the state highway department to purchase land for new highways.

One year later in 1957 The Ohio’s Department of Highways officially began construction on the 1,500 miles of the interstate system designated for Ohio in the Federal Aid Highway Act. After one year of interstate construction, Ohio was ahead of most other states in creating interstate highways. At this time they were spending more on roadway construction than New York or California, and by 1962 had 684 miles of interstates open. By the end of the decade Ohio hit a milestone with over 1000 miles completed.

In 1965 the federal government realized that there is a need for making the highways across the nation more attractive. They began to allow new federal funds to be spent on highway beautification projects. The Ohio Department of Highways took a leading role in this national initiative, creating a new Design Services Division to oversee rest areas and landscaping along thousands of miles of state and interstate roadways in Ohio.

The early seventies witnessed the consolidation of many state's transportation agencies. In September 1972 Ohio followed suit and the Ohio Department of Highways officially became the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT).

Throughout the decade construction of interstate highways continued. Two more milestones were reached during this period, with the full outerbelt Interstate 270 being completed around Columbus in 1975, as well as Interstate 70 in 1976 traveling east to west through the heart of Ohio.

ODOT and Ohio Highway Information

7th largest highway system in the nation.
5th greatest volume of traffic
4th largest interstate system
3rd greatest value of truck freight
2nd largest inventory of bridges.

Maintains

Approximately 49,000 lane miles
Over 44,000 Bridges and Culverts
Over 5,000 stop signs
Over 3,400 intersections
Over 6,200 on and off ramps
Over 3,100 miles of guardrail

Road Safety Strategies and Activities

Snow and Ice Removal

In 2000, ODOT began installing pavement sensors and Global Positioning System (GPS) tracking devices, and generating computer-modeled snow plow routes, to enhance its snow and ice removal program. The pavement sensors relay valuable information such as pavement and air temperature, precipitation accumulation and wind speed. By identifying and reporting weather conditions on the highway, the sensors help ODOT prioritize its response, to more efficiently clear the roads.

Pavement sensors are currently installed on highways around the state with more to come. Data from these sensors is transferred to ODOT's district offices, and entered into the Road and Weather Information System(RWIS) on the ODOT web site. Motorists can track winter weather conditions by accessing RWIS on the internet. RWIS also lists winter weather advisories, snow warnings and highway closures. The information is kept up-to-date, and is available 24 hours per day.

Computer modeling software is also used to plan plow routes for each county. Data on equipment capabilities, personnel resources, facility locations and highway types is entered into the system. Highway layouts and the locations of available plows and salt stores are then examined, to determine the most effective routes for snow plows and salt spreading equipment.

Global Positioning System (GPS) devices were also installed on ODOT vehicles, to help monitor the locations of ODOT equipment. This technology will allow the department to track the exact location of snow removal equipment, and determine which routes have been serviced.

Recent Events

By the beginning of the 21st century, the Ohio's interstate highway system was approaching 50 years old and many highways were reaching the end of their designed lives. Commercial truck traffic alone had grown 90 percent in the last quarter century and is estimated to grow another 60 percent in the next 20 years. Around this time a statewide plan was created to address congestion issues as well as the repair of aging interstate highways. In August of 2000 ODOT began the Cleveland Innerbelt Study to develop a comprehensive strategy to rebuild portions of Interstate 71, Interstate 77, and Interstate 90 into downtown Cleveland. The study was completed in 2004 and construction is planned to begin in 2009. Other studies include the Columbus Crossroads Study (I-70/I-71 interchange), the Toledo I-75/I-475 Interchange Study, and the North Central Outerbelt Study (I-270).

In March 2002 ODOT began the largest project in their history. Needing a replacement for the outdated Craig Memorial Bridge, the Maumee River Crossing (now the Veterans’ Glass City Skyway Bridge) was designed with an estimated price tag of $220 million. The cable-stayed bridge design includes glass panels along the center pylon with LEDs behind these panels, allowing for customizable lighting effects on the bridge.

August 5, 2003 became a historic day for ODOT when Governor Bob Taft unveiled his 10-year, $5 billion, Jobs and Progress plan. The plan was developed in order to supply $500 million annually to ODOT for new construction and revitalization projects designed to ease freeway congestion, improve road safety, and connect rural regions of Ohio. The plan is also estimated to create over 4,000 highway construction jobs. One month later ODOT completed Interstate 670 in Columbus, marking the completion of the original interstate highway plan in Ohio.

Another major project began on June 14, 2004. The Northeast Expressway Transformation (NExT) project marked the largest project ever in central Ohio and included rebuilding the State Route 161 interchanges at Interstate 270 and Sunbury Road, including 17 bridges, 18 ramps and five miles of highway.

Mission Statement

We will provide a world-class transportation system that links Ohio to a global economy while preserving the state’s unique character and enhancing its quality of life.