ODOT Launches Record $3.4B 2026 Construction Season Across Ohio

COLUMBUS, Ohio– Spring in Ohio means orange barrels and renewed investment in Ohio’s infrastructure. The Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) is kicking off a record-breaking $3.4 billion construction season statewide. 

The 2026 construction season includes a total of 977 projects. This year, 739 bridges and approximately 4,562 miles of roadway, equivalent to driving from Columbus to San Diego, California, and back, are set to be improved. Eighty cents of every dollar invested this year will go directly to preservation of existing roads and bridges. 

This construction season will also include the start of 174 safety projects. Ohio continues to spend more per capita than any other state when it comes to roadway safety. 

“As a state that makes and moves things, we must have a safe transportation system that is well maintained,” said Governor Mike DeWine. “As they do each year, our ODOT teams will be making enhancements to Ohio’s roadways to better protect everyone traveling on them.”  

Since the beginning of the DeWine Administration in 2019, ODOT has invested $15.5 billion into 6,067 projects across the state. 

“This record-setting construction season is a testament to ODOT’s focus on building a more resilient transportation system and saving lives,” said ODOT Director Pamela Boratyn. “This investment positions Ohio as the heart of the nation’s supply chain and continues to fuel the state’s economic engine.” 

Local project highlights

Locally, ODOT kicked off highway construction season today at the former weigh station on Interstate 75 in Wood County where work to construct 16 commercial truck parking spaces at the site, located north of State Route 281, began March 2 and is expected to complete mid April. 

A total of 144 truck parking spaces will be constructed at decommissioned highway weigh stations throughout Ohio as part of the state’s response to a national need for truck parking.

In addition to converting highway weigh stations, the first projects to construct truck parking within a larger statewide initiative will begin this year. In northwest Ohio, 65 spaces will be constructed along U.S. 33 at Willipie Street in Auglaize County, and 50 spaces will be added at the eastbound and westbound rest areas on U.S. 30 in Wyandot County.

“Sleep is key to safety, and finding a safe place to sleep is more of a challenge than it should be for our nation’s truckers, and it is a challenge I have faced too many times during my time behind the wheel,” said Scott Grenerth, former truck driver and truck parking advocate. “ODOT’s multi-pronged approach to increasing truck parking capacity will lead to safer roads for everyone,” he said.

Other notable projects in northwest Ohio beginning in 2026

• Allen & Hancock County – Interstate 75 Resurfacing The $3.1 million dollar project will microsurface I-75 between the Auglaize County line to the concrete pavement just south of the 4th Street interchange in Allen County, and  between County Road 313 and U.S. 224 in Hancock County. Work is scheduled for completion by this fall. 

• Wood County – I-75 and I-475 Resurfacing A project to resurface Interstate 75 and Interstate 475 in the vicinity of the Perrysburg interchange, and Interstate 475 from Interstate 75 to the Maumee River. The project also includes leveling the approach slabs leading onto and off the W. Dussel Drive/Salisbury Road bridge over I-475. Construction is estimated to be complete this fall. 
  
• Henry County – Replacement of existing pavement on U.S. 6/U.S. 24 from the U.S. 6 interchange to the Maumee River, Henry County. The project will occur over three construction seasons.
  
• Construction of roundabouts:
  • State Route 117/State Route 501, Allen County
  • State Route 15/Ralston Avenue, Defiance County
  • U.S. 68/State Route 31, Hardin County
  • U.S. 20A and Strayer Road, Lucas County
  • U.S. 20 and State Street, Sandusky County
  • U.S. 224/Lincoln Highway, Van Wert County

Local projects that will continue

• Reconstruction and reconfiguration of the U.S. 23 interchange with State Route 51 (Monroe Street/Alexis Road), city of Sylvania, Lucas County.
• Interchange construction at U.S. 24 and County Road 17D, Henry County.
• Roundabout construction at State Route 269 and Danbury Road, Ottawa County

See the listing for ODOT District 1 and ODOT District 2 for all projects occurring in northwest Ohio this season.