The much-discussed U.S. 33 expansion in Ohio has now officially broken ground, marking a significant stride in regional infrastructure development. The Ohio Department of Transportation, together with state and local dignitaries, convened on Monday to kick-start the $274 million project that promises to convert 25 miles of a two-lane highway into a four-lane divided one in Athens and Meigs Counties. This effort, as reported by ODOT, aims to enhance safety and meet future transportation demands.
Specific upgrades are set to take place along critical stretches of this corridor. A 10.78-mile section between Athens and Darwin will be broadened to a four-lane highway, with several intersections like Pleasant Hill and State Route 681 transitioning into interchanges. These changes intend to handle the intersecting traffic along the route smoothly. Furthermore, the project will also call for the construction of 7 new bridges, alongside the resurfacing of the existing roadway.
Moving eastward, the remainder of the expansion between SR 7 and Ravenswood will include additional safety features. A whopping 14.19 miles will undergo conversion to a four-lane divided highway, with new left turn lanes being added to improve traffic flow at at-grade intersections. This segment also includes the erection of 3 new bridges and minor drainage improvements, in addition to the standard roadway resurfacing.
The impetus for such a significant outlay lies in U.S. 33's growing importance as a freight corridor, with truck traffic rising steadily. These improvements will eliminate the final two-lane segments between Columbus and the Ohio River, forging a smoother link for Southeastern U.S. commerce. Rich Oster, ODOT District 10 Deputy Director, emphasized the magnitude of the project, stating, "Road construction projects of this magnitude don't happen very often in southeastern Ohio, so we're excited to get started." Oster voiced his anticipation to ODOT, with a vision of the undertaking bolstering efficiency and readiness for future needs.
As work gets underway, traffic impacts are to be anticipated. For the duration of 2025, drivers can expect to intermittently meet with flaggers who will be tasked to maintain traffic, especially at those intersections intersecting U.S. 33 that are under construction. Commuters and commercial drivers alike are advised to allocate additional travel time and to remain vigilant for changing traffic patterns amidst the ongoing expansion work.
