Will a connector road between U.S. 33 and I-70 ever become a reality?
CARROLL − Government officials have for years talked about building a connecting road from U.S. 33 to Interstate 70 to ease traffic congestion on U.S. 33. They've said the road would probably run from Pickerington to near Ohio 310 in Licking County.
But will the road ever become a reality?
The county hosted a public meeting recently at the Fairfield County Workforce Center on future development, and several people wanted to know more about it.
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County economic development director Rick Szabrak said there are no current plans to build the road. But county commissioner Jeff Fix was not as definitive, although he said it may take at least 10 or 15 years and cost around $240 million to complete.
"It will happen some day," Fix said. "Hopefully, in our lifetime. But there's no guarantees."
He said he doesn't know when or doesn't know where though. Fix said anyone who says they do know when or where is not being truthful.
"We understand there is a need for trucks to be able to get from (U.S.) 33 to (Interstate) 70 and vice versa to be able to keep them off the county roads, to be able to keep the congestion off (U.S.) 33," Szabrak said. "This has been a concept for 20-some years. But there are no plans, quite frankly, for it to happen."
He said it is listed as a project the county would like to see happen, though.
"But until somebody puts the $240 million up and shows up with a Brinks truck with that money, there's not a lot of likelihood that happens," Szabrak said. "So we need to come up with a lot of other ideas and other ways to be able to alleviate that (traffic) problem."
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However, Fix said the the county is advocating to the Ohio Department of Transportation and the U.S. Congress for the connector road. He said ODOT has said a connecting road is needed.
"We're knocking on every door we can because it is essential to us to move people around the county in a much better fashion that we are today," he said. "The bypass around the southern part of Lancaster was in process for 20-plus years. So none of this stuff happens overnight."
Regarding another transportation issue on U.S. 33 in Pickerington, Fix said the state will eventually build an interchange at U.S. 33 and Pickerington Road with traffic diverted east and north.
He said he hopes for it to be sooner than later.
Jbarron@gannett.com
740-681-4340
Twitter: @JeffDBarron
This article originally appeared on Lancaster Eagle-Gazette: Will a connector road between U.S. 33 and I-70 ever become a reality?
