Local

I-70 ramp closure detour frustrating for Huber Heights mayor

HUBER HEIGHTS — The ramp from I-70 east to I-75 north will shut down for months for safety repairs and the detour for drivers has Huber Heights city officials frustrated with the plan.

The plan is to use State Route 202 to redirect drivers from I-70 East to I-70 West, so driver’s can get back to I-75 to head north of town.

ODOT announced the plan 10 days before it’s scheduled to go into place.

“I just can’t even imagine what that’s going to be like,” said Huber Heights Mayor Jeff Gore.

He told News Center 7′s Mike Campbell the city learned about the planned ramp closure, when ODOT sent out an announcement yesterday, despite what he assumes would be month of planning.

Gore said the heaviest traffic on State Route 202, or Old Troy Pike, is right at the Interstate 70 bridge and ramps and other drivers agree.

“That’s huge, I mean the three lights through there, it takes ten to fifteen minutes to get through, now you’re re-routing more traffic,” said driver Nathan Smith. “That’s frustrating, I mean I’m frustrated thinking about it, honestly, I really am.”

News Center 7 reached out to the local ODOT officials, but have not heard back after the city said they reached out with their concerns.

Gore said having that much truck traffic trying to make consecutive left turns onto State Route 202 and then to I-70 west may prove impossible.

He’d like to see alternative solutions, maybe additional detour options.

“This isn’t rocket science, there’s lots of good ideas on Facebook from our residents,” Gore said.

The city said it does have its traffic engineers working on helping if ODOT doesn’t make any changes to its current plans. Gore said they’re hopeful that a meeting with state officials early next week could provide some relief.






0
Comments on this article