Columbus, Ohio – Ohio is preparing to invest $72 million in transportation improvements aimed at making roads safer and reducing the number of deadly and serious crashes across the state.
Governor Mike DeWine and Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) Director Pamela Boratyn announced that 33 transportation safety projects will move forward in 23 Ohio counties through funding provided by ODOT’s Highway Safety Improvement Program. State officials said the program is the largest roadway safety initiative in the nation when measured by per-person spending.
The projects are scheduled to receive funding during State Fiscal Years 2027 through 2032 and will focus on areas with a history of severe crashes where previous safety measures have not been enough to prevent serious injuries and fatalities.
“Every life lost on our roadways is one too many,” said Governor DeWine. “These projects target the types of crashes that are most likely to result in death or serious injury. By investing in proven safety countermeasures, we’re making our transportation system safer for everyone.”
Investments focus on intersections and protecting pedestrians
The funding package includes 13 intersection safety projects worth nearly $46.8 million and 20 pedestrian and roadway departure projects totaling approximately $25.3 million.
Officials said the work will include building modern roundabouts, adding turn lanes, redesigning dangerous intersections, improving pavement markings and road signs, and expanding facilities for pedestrians and cyclists through sidewalks, bike lanes, trails, and high-visibility crosswalks.
“Every single investment we make in our transportation network is an investment in the safety of the people who use it,” said ODOT Director Pamela Boratyn. “Dedicating millions of dollars to both state and local roads reflects our unwavering commitment to a data-driven approach that fixes problematic corridors and redesigns intersections to save lives.”
ODOT said the Highway Safety Improvement Program is specifically designed to improve locations that have experienced repeated fatal or injury crashes.
A large portion of the funding will go toward constructing 11 new roundabouts, which account for more than $40 million of the intersection safety funding.
Among the largest projects are a $5.61 million roundabout at State Route 5 and State Route 534 in Trumbull County, a $5.38 million roundabout at State Route 745 and Moore Road in Delaware County, a $5.23 million project on U.S. 20 in Sandusky County, and a $5.1 million roundabout at Hague Avenue and Fisher Road in Franklin County.
Other roundabouts are planned in Knox, Licking, Lorain, Seneca, Tuscarawas, and Warren counties.
The program also includes other intersection improvements. Delaware County will receive $1.09 million to add left-turn lanes at State Route 315 and Home Road, while Trumbull County will receive $2.54 million to construct a Reduced Collision U-Turn (RCUT) intersection at U.S. 422 and State Route 305.
Sidewalks bike paths and roadway improvements included
Beyond intersections, Ohio is investing heavily in projects that improve safety for pedestrians and cyclists.
Sidewalk and crossing improvements will take place in Athens, Franklin, Hamilton, Logan, Lorain, Montgomery, and Washington counties. These projects are intended to give pedestrians safer places to walk while reducing conflicts with vehicle traffic.
Additional funding will support shared-use paths, bike lanes, and multi-use trails in Delaware, Huron, Licking, Lucas, Ottawa, and Stark counties.
The state also approved pedestrian signal upgrades in Putnam County and Washington County, helping people cross busy roads more safely.
Another part of the funding will be used for roadway departure projects, which are designed to reduce crashes involving vehicles leaving the roadway or crossing into opposing traffic.
These improvements include widening roads and shoulders as well as installing guardrails.
Among those projects are Bethany Road widening and a shared-use path in Butler County, Shrine Road widening in Clark County, shoulder widening on State Route 229 in Knox County, and guardrail installation and roadway widening on County Road 242 in Wayne County.
State transportation officials said each project was selected because data showed it could significantly lower the risk of severe crashes. By combining engineering improvements with proven safety designs, Ohio hopes to reduce fatal and serious injury crashes while creating safer roads for drivers, pedestrians, cyclists, and everyone else who uses the state’s transportation system.
