YOUR THOUGHTS: Plan For Downtown I-70/I-71 Split

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- The split of Interstate 70 and Interstate 71 in downtown Columbus is one of the most heavily traveled highways in the state and it is now in line for a multi-million dollar renovation.

FAST FACTS:
• According to The Ohio Department of Transportation, there are more than 276 crashes per mile every year in the area where I-71 and I-70 overlap.
• More than 160,000 vehicle use the road every day.

Big changes will be soon coming to the split, but the cost is giving some residents sticker shock.

After seven years of being the works, a proposal has been finalized by the federal government and ODOT for a major project that would rebuild the I-71/I-70 corridor through downtown at an estimate of $1.6 billion.

What do you think about the project? Do you like the plan? Are you OK with the price tag? What about the impact it will have on the downtown area? Tell us your thoughts by posting a comment in the field below.

"70/71 in the state has a history, unfortunately, of being the most congested areas in the state. Actually (it's) ranked fourth highest (and) averages two crashes a day," said Nancy Burton, ODOT spokeswoman.
The proposed fix costs an estimated $1.6 billion -- significantly more than the $434 million ODOT estimated five years ago.

"Because it's a big project, cost of inflation, construction costs and things that are required. In 2004, that estimate did not have the full scope of the project at hand. The figure we have today is something that federal highways and ODOT worked on together," Burton said.

Work on the so-called mega project is essentially broken down into two phases and includes I-70, I-71, Interstate 670 and state Route 315.

Work will begin east of the Scioto River and include reconfiguring the I-670 and I-71 corridor. If all goes according to plan, work could begin as early as 2011 and be completed by 2017.

The project is meant to ease congestion in two ways:

The freeway would be widened to handle more traffic, and Fulton and Mound streets would be covered to one-way streets.

"It helps people get to and from downtown, takes them off the freeway, but allows them easier access downtown by making those streets one way," Burton said.

Off ramps would also be consolidated and reconfigured.

Most drivers who spoke to NBC 4 said that the end of the downtown split is a welcome thing.

Some businesses said that changing Fulton and Mound streets to one-way will help with visibility, but others said it's making a tough traffic situation worse on those streets.

Franklin County Administrator Don Brown said he thinks the move will allow business in and around the courthouse and government buildings to flow, but in his words, the project gets more expensive every day and it's time to get it done.

Some concern remains when it comes to timing of the construction. The new courthouse in Franklin County is expected in 2010, including a facelift to the area paid for by tax dollars.

Click here to view the full proposal.

A public hearing will be held on the project Feb. 10 from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Mid Ohio Regional Planning Commission at 111 Liberty Street.

Stay with NBC 4 and refresh nbc4i.com for additional information.
To submit a story idea or news tip, e-mail us at stories@nbc4i.com.
NBC 4 POLITICS: Headlines, Interactives & Video
MORE: NBC 4 Local News | Local Crime News
NBC 4 SPORTS: Sports News, Video