A fresh state study has turned farmland north of Ashley into ground zero in the long-running fight over how to fix traffic between U.S. 23 and Interstate 71. On Thursday, the Ohio Department of Transportation rolled out a draft study that trims a long list of options down to five possible freeway corridors north of the village and opened a short window for residents to weigh in. If the project moves ahead, the new link could reshape travel between northern Delaware County and I-71 for decades.
What ODOT released
According to the Ohio Department of Transportation's Draft Conceptual Alternatives Study, engineers started with 16 preliminary alignments and whittled the list down to five corridors, all north of Ashley, for closer analysis. Three options south of the village were dropped from consideration because they would significantly affect Delaware State Park and federally regulated floodplain areas, which the draft says would drive up permitting complexity and mitigation costs.
The draft also notes that the entire exercise began with a directive from state lawmakers to test whether a new connector is even feasible and to look at whether tolling or other financing tools might help pay for it.
Public meetings and how to comment
ODOT plans to take the draft on the road in early March. A local open house is scheduled for March 5 at the Delaware County Fairgrounds, 236 Pennsylvania Ave., the City of Delaware says.
AOL reports that additional sessions are planned in Marengo on March 10 and in Marion on March 12, and that comments submitted by April 14 will be included in the official study record. Residents can speak up at the open houses, send an email to [email protected], or use ODOT's online public-input channels.
Growth pressures behind the study
Regional planners say the pressure behind the project is no mystery. Population and job numbers north of Columbus have been rising for years, and the Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission's long-range plan points to continued development and heavier traffic in Delaware County and neighboring areas. Those growth trends, planners argue, are central to why the state is even considering a new freeway connector.
What ODOT says about impacts
The draft study concedes that any new road will come with property and environmental impacts. At the same time, it leans on early engineering estimates to push back on some of the rumors flying around community meetings. "All alignment alternatives are showing potential residential impacts closer to a dozen homes, not the 'hundreds of homes' currently being circulated publicly," the draft study reads.
Community reaction
Local landowners and advocacy groups have not waited for the ink to dry. They have already organized to push back against carving a new freeway across farmland and environmentally sensitive areas. Organizations like US23FIX argue that targeted improvements to the existing U.S. 23 corridor could deliver quicker safety and congestion relief at a lower price tag than building a brand-new connector.
What happens next
From here, ODOT will sift through public feedback and use it to refine the remaining corridors. A final feasibility recommendation is expected by Oct. 1, 2026, after which state legislators and other leaders would decide whether to move ahead with a preferred alignment, according to AOL.
If a route advances into full design and permitting, later stages of the project would dig into tolling possibilities, potential upgrades to I-71, and the environmental permits the connector would need before any dirt can be turned.
