This document summarizes Ohio's experience with fully closing a 1.7 mile stretch of Interstate 670 in Columbus for reconstruction. The full closure allowed the project to be completed in 18 months, rather than 4 years with partial closures, reducing costs and impacts to drivers. Public outreach in the months leading up to the closure was important to communicate alternate routes and timelines. The experience was seen as positive and Ohio would consider full closures again in similar situations where conditions allow for alternate routes and clear public benefits.

1. Purpose of Work Shop
Share Ohio’s experience with a full closure
reconstruction: the rationale, challenges,
implementation and benefit

2. Background
Statewide interstate reconstruction effort
underway in Ohio to rebuild aging, heavily
traveled highways and make them safer for 21st
Century traffic.
ODOT is looking for creative ways to repair these
roads while minimizing the negative impact to our
customers

3. Interstate 670
When originally built during the ’60s, the 1.7 mile
stretch of urban highway was considered state of
the art.
However traffic long outgrew the original design
making it difficult to navigate and a high-accident
location

4. Map of SSI Projects

5. Project History
I-670 segment one of 15 projects worth $225
million to rebuild and redesign the downtown
Columbus innerbelt and complete the missing
link in Ohio’s interstate system.

6. More History …
• The work stalled for decades due to
environmental regulations, lawsuits and lack of
funding.
• Work began on the projects during the early
’90s using operating-cost savings from ODOT.
Today only two projects remain.

7. Benefit
When the work is completed in the fall, motorists
will be able to travel directly from the west to
east side of Columbus on a newer, safer, wider
highway.

8. Why Full Closure?
• Given the long history of the project, ODOT
and Columbus eager to complete
remaining projects quickly
• ODOT could cut construction schedule by
more than half using full closure vs. part-
width

9. Project Scope
• Reconstructing and building new 1.7 miles
of urban freeway including 21 bridges and
10 ramps
• Cost: $50 million
• Highway tightly bordered by historic
neighborhoods, convention center and
emerging business and arena districts

10. Existing Condition
• Two narrow lanes in each direction with
little shoulder area
• Geometric deficiencies: sharp curves, short
merge areas and ramps spaced too close
• Disrepair: crumbling concrete on bridges,
medians and shoulders, rough road surface

14. Pix disrepair

15. Why Full Closure on I-670
• Cut Construction from 4 years to 18 months
• Reduce the potential for accidents
• Worker Safety (difference in elevation)
• Reduce Driver Confusion
• Better Quality and Reduced Cost
• Experience with Full Closure (SR 315)

17. Process
To pursue a full-closure approach, ODOT had to
gather the facts and “build the case,” then
present the information to key decision makers
for support.

18. Analysis
• Traffic – where will the traffic go? Can the
system support it?
• User Delay Costs – closing vs.
maintaining traffic
• Life-cycle costs

20. Building Support
Once we gathered the data, we had to “sell” the
idea to key decision-makers.
• Mayor and Local Public Officials
• ODOT Executive Leadership
• Public
Support was relatively easy to come by given the
clear benefits.

21. Implementation
Enacting the closure was easy.
• One week of prep for signs
• One day to close (weekend)
• Two weeks of traffic monitoring (Field,
TMC and LEOs)

22. Public Outreach
The hardest part of the full closure is the
outreach needed to prepare the public.
This effort began about six months in advance
and continued at a steady pace leading up to and
after the closure. It also involved the public
relations AND construction staff.

23. Key Audience
• Motorists
• Businesses
• Residents
• Public Officials/Opinion Leaders
• Emergency Responders
• Schools
• Media

24. Type of Communication
• Fact Sheets
• Custom Flyers for nearby businesses
• Web site (www.I-670.org)
• Group and One-on-One Presentations
• Media (pitched various news angles)
• Government Channel
• E-mail Updates – progress reports and
traffic info

26. Key Messages
• Benefits of work (new, safer, wider
highway, direct connection, completes
interstate, design enhancements)
• Efforts to minimize construction delays
(4 yrs to 18 mos, incentives/disincentives)
• Alternate Routes and Commuting
Strategies

27. Construction Progress
Work is currently 2/3 complete and on-time
thanks to:
• $20,000 per day Liquidated Savings
• High-community profile
• Contractor has unrestricted access to
work site

32. Would you use the full closure again?
Yes! ODOT’s experience has been positive and
we would use a full closure again under the right
conditions.

33. Right Conditions
• Small section of roadway
• Tight physical constraints
• Variety of good alternate routes
• Clear public benefit
“Building the case” and communicating the
benefits is key!

34. Future Contracting Innovation
Increasing public demand for less work zone
congestion and the success of innovative
projects have given ODOT the courage to try new
techniques.
• Innovative Contracting Policy
• Fast Track Bridge Construction

35. QUESTIONS?