I-71 Third Lane Widening
As a primary freight corridor and connection between Columbus and Cleveland, the improved stretch of I-71 reduced travel times between the two cities for both passengers and freight.
INSIDE THE PROJECT
This $44 million Design-Build project included adding a third lane to 7.3 miles of I-71 in Morrow County, Ohio. Kokosing teamed with a local design consultant to develop a maintenance of traffic scheme that allowed Kokosing to construct significant portions of the project full-width, providing a safer work zone and improving the project schedule. All of the work was completed on schedule including winter maintenance of traffic (MOT) restrictions that required all lanes to be back in their normal locations from October 1 to April 1. This restricted the construction season to only six months each year.
Roadway construction included complete replacement of all existing pavement, all new drainage, rehabilitation of two overhead bridges and complete reconstruction of a third overhead bridge. Significant safety upgrades included new guardrail, shoulder widening, and median cable rail for the length of the project.
Major quantities of work included 309,000 square yards of chemical stabilization, 370,000 square yards of pavement removal, 150,000 cubic yards of earthwork, 16,000 linear feet of storm sewer installation, and the placement of over 380,000 tons of asphalt. The warm-mix asphalt was self-produced at two of Kokosing’s permanent local asphalt plants.
- The Morrow I-71 project was part of the I-71 Widening Gold Spike project that won the “Under Budget Award” from the Mid-America Association of State Transportation Officials (MAASTO).
