COLUMBUS - The

holiday season has begun, and Ohioans will be hitting the highways

this

weekend

to visit family and friends.

To aid travelers, the Ohio

Department

of

Transportation (ODOT) is providing this comprehensive list

of

interstate

construction

taking

place over the Thanksgiving Day weekend.

ODOT

officials strongly

urge

motorists

to

watch out for construction delays and stopped

traffic.

Drivers

are

encouraged

to obey posted speed limits in construction

zones. For the sake of safety, speeding fines in construction zones may be doubled.

Southeastern Ohio

State Route 7, Washington County: One

northbound

travel

lane on State Route 7, located in front of Chevron Phillips

approximately

3.7

miles south of Marietta, is closed. A 14-foot width

restriction

is in effect for the passing lane to allow for a tunnel replacement. This project is scheduled for completion Nov. 30.

U.S. Route 33, Athens County: The

U.S.

Route

33/U.S.

Route

50 eastbound off-ramp to Pomeroy/Richland Avenue

has a 10-foot width restriction in place. This project is scheduled for completion Nov. 30.

State Route 78, Morgan County: State

Route 78, just west of State Route 37 is currently restricted to one lane with 11-foot width restriction, for reconstruction. The restriction is approximately

1,500

feet

in

length.

This

project

is

scheduled

for completion in July, 2004.

Central Ohio

U.S. Route 33, Fairfield County: The traffic

pattern

has changed

on

U.S. Route 33 (Lancaster Bypass project) near Horns

Mill

Road.

Eastbound

traffic

has been switched to the westbound lanes,

where one lane is maintained in each direction. The speed limit has been reduced to 50 mph. This traffic pattern change will be in effect until early December.

Interstate 71, Fayette County is under major reconstruction in the northbound lanes between the village of Jeffersonville and the Fayette/Greene county line. Two lanes of

traffic

are

being

maintained. The northbound rest area is closed for reconstruction.

A

55 mph speed limit in the construction zone is strictly enforced on both the northbound and southbound sides.

Southern Ohio

U.S. Route 23, Scioto County: The

U.S.

Grant

Bridge,

on U.S. Route 23 from Portsmouth to South Shore, Kentucky,

is

closed for a bridge replacement project. While it is closed, traffic is being detoured

via U.S. Route 52 and the Carl Perkins Bridge on State

Route

852,

west

of

Portsmouth.

The

project

is scheduled to be completed in late 2004.

State Route 32, Jackson County: In

conjunction

with

an

interchange

project at State Route 32 and State Route

327 south of Wellston, mainline traffic on SR 32 at the project site has

been

diverted

in

one lane over ramps in both the east and westbound direction.

A

10-foot width restriction has been imposed in the work zone, and a 45 mph speed limit on SR 32 is also in effect. In addition, SR 327 is closed

just

south of Wellston, between County Road 88/Tom Corwin Road and SR 32. While the route is closed, motorists are being detoured via CR 88 to

County

Road

78

to

SR

32.

The scheduled completion date for the entire interchange project is July 15, 2004.

Northeast Ohio

State Route 8, Summit County: A major

reconstruction of State Route 8 from Perkins Street to East Exchange Street

in

the

city

of Akron. SR 8 will maintain two lanes of traffic in each direction.

State Route 11, Ashtabula County:

The

rehabilitation

of

twin

bridges on State Route 11 over the Ashtabula River and Indian Trails Parks, located in Ashtabula and Plymouth townships. Traffic is reduced to one lane in each direction.

State Route 45, Ashtabula County:

State Route 45 is closed from approximately one mile north of Interstate 90 to State Route 84. A newly- constructed, temporary, southbound lane is open for

local

traffic only through this section of roadway. All other traffic must use the official detour posted.

Interstate 71, Richland County: A major

widening

project

on

Interstate 71 between State Route 430 and the Ashland

County

line is coming to a close. All three lanes, both north and southbound,

are

expected

to

be

open

by the holiday weekend. Inclement weather

may

cause

work

on

the

northbound lanes to continue into early December.

Interstate 76, Portage County: The resurfacing of Interstate 76 between State Route 44 and County Road 18 continues. Two lanes

of traffic are open in each direction. Also, the exit ramp from I-76 westbound to CR 18 is closed. A detour is posted.

Interstate 77, Stark County: The widening

of

Interstate

77

between

the

Belden

Village interchange and Orchard

Park

Drive,

just north of Fulton Road continues.

Two lanes of traffic are open in each direction.

Interstate 77, Stark County: The widening

of

Interstate

77

from U.S. Route 30 to Tuscarawas Street continues.

Two lanes of traffic are open in each direction. The entrance ramp from U.S. 30 westbound to I-77 northbound is closed. A detour is posted.

Interstate 90, Ashtabula County: Interstate 90 from just west of State Route 193 to two miles east of SR 193 in

the

city

of

Kingsville

is

reduced

to

one lane of traffic in each direction.

U.S. Route 224, Huron County: A widening

project

on

U.S.

Route

224

through downtown Willard continues through December. Motorists should watch for slower-moving vehicles.

Western Ohio

Interstate 70, Clark County: Four

bridge

replacements

and

widening continue on Interstate 70 at Enon Road.

Two

11-foot lanes are maintained in each direction. The speed limit is reduced to 55 mph.

Interstate 70 and Interstate 75, Montgomery County: Reconstruction

work

continues

on this major interchange of Interstate 70 and Interstate 75, just north of Dayton. Heavy construction on new ramps in all directions, along with construction of additional lanes is taking place within

the

median

areas.

In addition, a new bridge is being constructed approximately

one mile south of this interchange over I-75. Reconstruction of

two bridges over I-70 are also taking place approximately one

mile east, and approximately one mile west of the interchange. Two lanes of traffic on I-70

and

three

lanes

of

traffic

on

I-75

are

available with no lane restrictions

over

the holiday weekend. Motorists should still be cautious and

reduce

their

speed

through

this

area. Expect heavy congestion and possible delays.

Interstate 75, Montgomery County: construction

of

a

new interchange on Interstate 75 about a mile south of Interstate 70. Three lanes of traffic are maintained in each direction.

4Interstate 75, Shelby County Replacement

of two bridges on Interstate 75 over the Great Miami River. No lane restrictions will be in effect over the holiday weekend.