S.R. 315 Project’s Impact On Local Biz Unclear

COLUMBUS, Ohio—This time next week, thousands of commuters who typically take state Route 315 will have to find a different way home.

A massive construction project begins Monday, June 15.

When that happens, commuters expect surrounding roads, such as Olentangy River Road, to flood with displaced drivers.

“It’s just going to be a total mess,“ commuter Bev Patrick said.

Patrick frequently travels from Coshocton to Columbus for work.

“I’m not looking forward to it at all, not at all,“ she said.

Monday will mark the first of 120 days of construction along a three-mile stretch of S.R. 315 from Interstate 670 to North Broadway.

Officials with ODOT said ramp-closure signs currently are at nine entrance ramps and two exit ramps that will be closed Monday. Seven exit ramps and two entrance ramps will remain open. 

“I don’t even want to think about the traffic,“ Patrick said.

Drivers aren’t the only ones expecting Olentangy River Road to be flooded with drivers seeking another way to and from work.

Local businesses were expecting the displaced drivers to drop in but expected to lose a few regulars, too.

“I think it will be somewhat good for business, but at the same time it will take a little bit away,“ said Avatar Peebles, food quality manager at Bob Evans on South Olentangy River Road.

Peebles said traffic may deter would-be customers in the morning but she hopes it will pick back up at night. 

“I think at night it might build our customer base because people are traveling home, and they’ll be trying to stop somewhere to get food because there’s going to be so long of a wait,“ Peebles said.

While you may think increased traffic would be a good thing for a gas station, some aren’t so sure. 

“It will either be very good for us—or very bad,“ said Debasish Datta, manager at the AMPM store at the intersection of Olentangy River Road and Fifth Avenue. 

“If it is too much traffic, then people don’t want to stop because they will be behind again a lot more traffic. too,“ Datta said.

Bottom line: When it comes to what the next four months holds, businesses are 50/50.

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