Ohio governor signs $5 billion transportation budget bill

Updated Apr 6, 2015

Ohio Welcome sign archOhio Governor John Kasich signed H.B. 53, the state’s 2016-2017 Transportation Budget Bill, into law April 1, providing $5 billion for nearly 1,600 projects across the state.

The bill provides $600 million for local government road and bridge projects, a new streamlined contracting process, and driver training reforms.

Major projects that will be able to move forward include Interstate 71 expansions in Columbus and Interstate 70 expansions in Clark County, as well as the second phase of the Opportunity Corridor in Cleveland.

Also planned are upgrades to the Interstate 475/U.S. 20 interchange in Lucas County, an interchange at Cherry Valley Road in Newark, and the Mill Creek Expressway in Cincinnati.

The Ohio Department of Transportation also recently announced it is accepting public comments on the 2016-2019 Statewide Transportation Improvement Plan.