The rundown on the road work

The Ohio Department of Transportation will spend $15 million on road and bridge repairs in Tuscarawas County this summer and fall. It’s all part of a record $2.8 billion investment into road construction statewide.

While filling those potholes and building new roads is welcome news, it also can cause frustration for drivers. Here is a rundown of what to expect, where and when.

State Route 39

The most intensive project is taking place right now on state Route 39 approximately 2 miles west of Dover, where the road is closed from Ervin Road to the entrance of the Kimble Companies facility.

According to Lauren Borell, public information officer for ODOT District 11, the $1.2 million project is intended to improve safety at the entrance to the Kimble Companies. Crews are lowering the profile of the road to improve visibility and increase sight and stopping distance.

“We’re also widening the area of Kimble’s entrance to state Route 39 to increase the turning radius for the large trucks coming in and out of there,” Borell said.

Borell said the turn lane will be reinstalled and extended, and a section of the road will receive a new storm sewer, curb and roadway resurfacing. The road should be open by Aug. 22, but until then ODOT recommends the detours:

—From Dover to Sugarcreek: state Route 39, to state Route 516 North, to state Route 93 West into Sugarcreek.

—From Sugarcreek to Dover: state Route 39, to state Route 93 North, to state Route 516 South and back to state Route 31.

Drivers should take note that the intersection of state routes 516 and 93 in Dundee has been temporarily made a four-way stop to better manage traffic flow. Upon completion of the project, the intersection will revert to a two-way stop.

State Route 800 bridge

Construction to replace the deck on the bridge at Route 800 and state Route 212 is just getting underway. Traffic signals will be used to maintain single-lane traffic with an expected completion date of July 2025 for the $2 million project.

Interstate 77

Roadway resurfacing from the Guernsey County line to Newcomerstown is nearly complete, according to Borell. Stripping and final touches on the $3.5 million project are expected to be complete by Sept. 30.

State Route 258

A $2.2 million project to resurface state Route 258 from Newcomerstown to Post Boy Road is underway. Watch for flaggers maintaining traffic until approximately Oct. 31.

There also are a number of local projects and work that, while not taking place on roadways, do receive state funding from and are overseen by ODOT:

—Towpath Trail Improvements: 2 miles from state Route 212 to state Route 416 will be closed until Aug. 31.

—20th Street bridge in Dover: Replacement of the bridge should begin by late July or early August and will involve closing the road.

—Newcomerstown sidewalks: Construction of sidewalks on the west side of Miskimen Drive from Oak Street to just north of Elizabeth Street will involve lane restrictions.

—New Philadelphia bike and pedestrian path: Construction will connect Kent State Tuscarawas to downtown New Philadelphia along East High Avenue. Lane shifts will occur, but two lanes of traffic will be maintained.

Safety and the Move Over Law

Drivers should exercise patience and caution when traveling through or near construction zones. According to Borell, 51 road crews have been struck in Ohio as of July 18, as compared to 56 for all of 2023, when a contractor was killed and 23 ODOT workers and contractors were injured.

“Fortunately, none of those have occurred in our district, which covers Tuscarawas, Belmont, Carroll, Columbiana, Harrison, Holmes and Jefferson counties,” Borell said.

In addition to potentially causing injury or death, drivers who exceed the speed limit in construction zones will face much stiffer fines than are normally assessed.

Ohio’s Move Over Law, which applies to all roadways and streets, requires drivers to move over or slow down when passing a vehicle with flashing lights on the side of the road. Violating the law can result in a misdemeanor charge and a fine of up to double the usual amount.

Additional fines also may be assessed for distracted driving and for incurring multiple violations in the same year.

For more information on construction projects, visit www.transportation.ohio.gov. For real-time traffic updates, visit www.ohgo.com.