Welcome!

The Legislature tasked the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) and the Ohio Turnpike & Infrastructure Commission (OTIC) with jointly evaluating the feasibility of this connection through multiple options, including upgrading existing state routes, constructing a new freeway, or developing a tolled facility.

This effort is composed of two main phases:

Phase 1: Planning Study (Interim Report)

• Completed: October 1, 2025
• Defined a broad study area that captured all reasonable north-south connection points from US 23 to I-71 within Delaware, Marion, and Morrow Counties. As part of this early step, seven conceptual corridors were identified for preliminary evaluation.
• Outcome: The planning study narrowed the focus to a specific area: US 23 north of Waldo, with potential routes either running north or south of the Village of Ashley and connecting to I-71 between US 36/SR 37 and SR 61. This focus area will move forward into the feasibility study for further engineering analysis.

Phase 2: Connector Joint Plan (Final Report)

• Completed: September 30, 2026

• ODOT published a Draft Conceptual Alternatives Study (CAS) in February 2026. The CAS represents the initial look at identifying conceptual alignments for a potential new freeway connection between US 23 and I-71 which will be integrated into the feasibility study. This Draft CAS evaluated 16 preliminary alignments within the study's Focus Area. Each alignment was evaluated against key considerations, including environmental constraints, community impacts, and engineering feasibility. The Draft CAS recommended five alignments located north of Ashley for additional consideration and public feedback.

• Public meetings were held in March 2026 to gather feedback on the five alignments and identify local issues and opportunities for refinement. Based on the CAS findings and input received through public and stakeholder engagement, ODOT developed and evaluated multiple alignment refinements. Refined alternatives, and the recommended preferred alignment were shared at public meetings in August 2026.

• Outcome: On September 30, 2026, ODOT delivered the final Feasibility Study to the Ohio Legislature. The Feasibility Study includes the recommended preferred alignment as well as public feedback received. In addition, it includes the result of the tolling analysis, traffic modeling, vehicle usage and predicted time savings, impacts and improvements needed on I-71, construction and right-of-way cost estimates, and summary of community and environmental impacts of the recommended preferred alignment.