FINDLAY, Ohio (WLIO) - A major roadway project is now ready for drivers and local traffic.
ODOT District 1, along with Findlay city officials, local legislators and construction crews celebrated the new diverging diamond interchange at I-75 and County Road 99 in Findlay on Monday. The nearly $31 million project is the first of its kind in ODOT District 1, the design takes drivers on the opposite side of the road over the bridge then back again once across the bridge. The idea is to eliminate left turns crossing against oncoming traffic, something ODOT officials say significantly improves safety and traffic flow.
"There are a total of five lanes going across I-75; this is actually going to move traffic more efficiently, and traffic is going to experience less delay than with eight lanes with a traditional design," said Chris Hughes, deputy director of ODOT District 1. "It's going to move traffic very, very quickly. These diverging diamond interchanges typically reduce crashes by about 50%."
Findlay mayor Christina Muryn complements the new interchange, saying it will help bolster economic development on the city's north side.
"A lot of land that is available for development over the next couple years is in this area, and so it's really well positioned to make this investment into our infrastructure now, so that over the next 20 years, we're well positioned to be able to handle any growth that we see in this area," Muryn said.
ODOT says some minor cosmetic work still needs to be completed, but traffic will not be impacted. The interchange opens to traffic Monday night.
