Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Transportation topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
City staff warns US‑33 widening and interchange projects will shift maintenance and affect local access
Summary
City Administrator Matt Peoples and staff briefed council on an extensive ODOT update: Pickerington Road interchange, US‑33 widening, Bixby Road interchange planning, ramp metering on Gender Road, and an ODOT proposal that the city assume maintenance responsibilities for US‑33 after the widening and warranty period.
City Administrator Matt Peoples and staff gave a detailed update Nov. 3 on Ohio Department of Transportation projects affecting Canal Winchester and the US‑33 corridor.
Peoples said multiple projects are in design or early construction phases: the Pickerington Road interchange (expected complete in 2028), US‑33 widening and resurfacing projects (design under way; construction phases through the late 2020s), and a Bixby Road interchange feasibility study with stakeholder outreach expected in 2026.
Notably, Peoples told council ODOT has indicated the city may be asked to assume full maintenance responsibility for US‑33 after the widening project is complete and the warranty period expires. "They want us to take full responsibility of US 33," Peoples said, and staff warned this would not occur until after the widening project and warranty period are complete, likely several years out.
Peoples also described planned changes including ramp metering on Gender Road as part of the widening project and a controlled U‑turn reconfiguration at US‑33 and Petzinger Road, as well as a potential closure of some High Street and Bowen Road access points to US‑33 in a later phase; staff said they will continue discussions with ODOT about local access and mitigation.
Peoples said the city is exploring budgeting and operational examples from nearby communities that have assumed maintenance responsibilities and noted state bid and ODOT cooperative pricing can help with equipment procurement should the city take on additional maintenance duties.
Next steps: staff will continue coordination with ODOT, pursue further design and funding details, and return to council with recommendations as projects advance.
