OHIO PIKE Claim new interchanges make jobs

OHIO PIKE

Claim new interchanges make jobs

The Ohio Turnpike will have 31 interchanges when current construction is complete compared to 16 when it was built 42 years ago. 11 will have been built in the past 7 years. Other old ones are being renovated.

Umberto Fideli, the retiring chairman, launched the largest capital works program since the pike was built in the mid-50s. He says the new interchanges have produced thousands of jobs for the state by improving accessibility and lowering cost to business. IC-14A&B at Lordstown, west of Youngstown, provide direct access off the pike to a GM assembly plant and helped secure 8,000 jobs, he says. The IC-3B west of Toledo in the Delta-Lyons area were the clincher in getting $500m invested in mini-steel plants and 400 jobs. IC-2A at Archbold-Fayette helped keep the Sauder Woodworking company with 2000 jobs from moving to the Carolinas.

The turnpike is continuing to consider other interchanges along its 388km length, though sometimes there is local opposition. Plans for an IC at OH-11 at Canfield on the sounthwest fringe of Youngstown were shelved last year after local criticism. that it would generate unwanted traffic.

258km of the pike between Toledo and Youngstown are in process of being widened from 2x2 to 2x3 lanes by widening into the 17m median. (TRnl#2 Apr 96 p8)

Ruth Ann Leever, former vice-chair is the new chairman of the pike commission. (Contact Heidi Jedel 216 234 2081x302 www.ohioturnpike.org)