Maumee, Ohio – The Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) is inviting the public to a special event ahead of the official opening of a brand-new interchange at Interstate 475 and U.S. 20A in Maumee. The event will take place on Monday, August 4, at 2 p.m., on the north bridge of U.S. 20A near the Spartan Chemical side of the interchange.
Local officials, ODOT representatives, and area business leaders will gather to share remarks about the importance of the new interchange and the ways it is expected to improve logistics and traffic flow in the region.
Pat McColley, ODOT District 2 deputy director, emphasized the significance of the project, saying, “We’re adding a new highway asset — a new interchange of the most modern design currently available in traffic engineering. We’d like the public to be part of this, and to personally experience this new highway infrastructure prior to its opening.”
Traffic and Parking Details for the Event
To accommodate the event, U.S. 20A will be closed between Ford Street and Briarfield Boulevard. Access will remain open for local businesses, ensuring minimal disruption to operations. Attendees will be able to park on either side of U.S. 20A near the bridge and walk to the event location. ODOT staff will be stationed to guide participants to parking areas.
The interchange, which will open to traffic later that same week, is a diverging diamond interchange (DDI)—a modern traffic design created to improve safety and reduce congestion. The DDI replaces the previous overpass that carried U.S. 20A across I-475.
A Major Infrastructure Upgrade
Construction for the project began in 2022 and included more than just the new interchange. The work involved widening approximately five miles of I-475 between U.S. 24 and Airport Highway, reconstructing existing pavement, replacing bridges over the Norfolk Southern Railroad and Monclova Road, and resurfacing about three miles of U.S. 24 from Waterville-Monclova Road to just east of the I-475 interchange.
This new DDI is the second in northwest Ohio, following the first built at I-475 and State Route 25 in Perrysburg, which opened in 2017. Officials believe the addition of this interchange will not only enhance traffic efficiency but also support regional economic growth by improving access for businesses and commuters.
ODOT is encouraging the community to attend the preview event to see firsthand how this new piece of infrastructure will transform the area’s traffic flow and connectivity.
