Loryn Bryson/ODOT photo
Crews in Moraine, Ohio, are working to meet a mid-2025 completion date, as they carry out a $51 million roadway rehabilitation.
Crews in Moraine, Ohio, are working to meet a mid-2025 completion date, as they carry out a $51 million roadway rehabilitation. The I-75 reconstruction project, stretching from 06.86 straight line mile marker (SLM) to 09.57 SLM, replaces existing pavement and pavement markings, and includes minor bridge repairs.
Loryn Bryson/ODOT photo
"The pavement infrastructure within the project limits had exceeded its life expectancy, and could no longer be satisfactorily maintained," explained Mandi Dillon, Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) regional public information officer. "Work is on schedule, and all lanes of traffic should be back in their permanent configuration by mid-October 2024."
The undertaking is approximately 60 percent complete. As with most projects of this nature, motorists are having to be somewhat flexible during construction.
"There have been changes to the traditional traffic pattern to allow the contractor to work on the interstate, while still allowing for traffic flow and volume," said Dillon. "We have included lane shifts and a contraflow lane to ensure we still have three lanes available in each direction during construction."
Barrett Paving Materials Inc. serves as the project's contractor.
"They are a good fit," Dillon said, "due to their experience of successfully completing interstate reconstruction projects for ODOT in the past."
Regarding milestones, said Dillon, "The northbound side of Interstate 75 has been totally reconstructed along with half of the southbound side as of August 5, 2024. The biggest milestone is that the project is still on schedule with four phases now complete, and many challenges in each phase."
Sam Sine, ODOT project supervisor, noted the biggest challenge is maintaining safety in the work zone for the traveling public and construction crews and inspectors.
"Traffic speeds continue to be higher than what is posted in the work zone. This results in traffic accidents and delays. The project has teamed up with state and local law enforcement to increase speed enforcement, and that has helped."
Recently, the project shifted traffic into phase five of six to begin reconstruction of the outside lanes of Interstate 75 southbound, along with reconstruction of both southbound Dryden Road ramps. The northbound side of Interstate 75 and the northbound Dryden Road ramps have been totally reconstructed, as well as half the southbound side, as of the first week of August.
Loryn Bryson/ODOT photo
Sine said reconstructing the outside half of I-75 southbound remains, as well as reconstructing the southbound Dryden Road ramps and installation of the asphalt surface course on northbound and southbound I-75 from West Carrollton to U.S. 35 in 2025.
Replacing the existing pavement involves the total removal of existing pavement down to subgrade; replacement of soft subgrade; removal and installation of new drainage infrastructure; placing and compacting base aggregate; placing and compacting asphalt base; placing and compacting intermediate asphalt; placing and compacting surface asphalt; and placing permanent pavement markings.
The project also required extending the southbound deceleration ramp from I-75 to Dryden Road approximately 100 ft.
"Since mainline pavement is being reconstructed, the work involved in extending the deceleration ramp only involves a small amount of embankment construction and widening the pavement in the area along with changing the alignment of the guardrail," Sine said.
Regarding the resurfacing of the segment of I-75 from SLM 09.68 to SLM 11.22, ODOT, consulting project engineer Dan Wise said, "This section of I-75 had a lot of pavement scarring as a result of placing and removing numerous pavement markings and raised pavement markers [RPM] over the years. This could lead to deterioration over time. By resurfacing this area, it removes all the scarring and gets rid of potentially confusing markings and leftover RPM castings. The traveling public is left with a nice new pavement surface."
The bridge conditions within the project limits did not require major work. The minor bridge repairs only involved deck patching and backwall repairs that are consistent with maintenance type repairs to extend the life of the bridge.
According to Wise, replacing the median barrier from SLM 09.68 to SLM 10.44 was incorporated into one of the phases when traffic was shifted to the outside lanes of I-75 northbound and southbound to allow crews to work in the median barrier area. While traditional hand forming was used in some areas, the median barrier was mostly slipped using a special machine that allowed for placement in greater quantities than hand forming can produce.
Main equipment being used at the job site at this time includes excavators, dozers, graders, pavement milling machines, pavers, compaction equipment, dump trucks and proof rolling equipment.
Chief materials on the project include 24.6 mi. of drainage conduit; 9,500 cu. yds. of concrete; 151,000 tons of asphalt; 5 mi. of guardrail and cable rail; and 100 drainage structures.
Loryn Bryson/ODOT photo
Wise said there are always challenges that arise with a project of this size, but they haven't been a major distraction.
"ODOT and Barrett Paving Materials Inc. have established a good working relationship and are able to keep the lines of communication open to resolve any unexpected issue that comes up in a fair and equitable manner," said Dillon. "It's exciting and a great privilege to play a role in keeping goods and services traveling through Ohio. We take great pride in our transportation system. Our employees typically live in the areas we are working on, so they are not only working on the interstate, they are working on the same roads they use every day.
"Our goal is to provide a safe, reliable transportation system that can support current and future traffic volumes. Anytime we can improve this system, we are improving the quality of life for Ohioans and anyone traveling through the Buckeye state." CEG
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