ODOT outlines Route 18 widening project

MONTVILLE TWP. — The $24 million state Route 18 widening project is designed to improve safety and reduce congestion between Alber Drive and Nettleton Road beginning later this month, with completion scheduled for June 2024. At least one lane of traffic will be maintained during the 2.2-mile project, Ohio Department of Transportation officials said Thursday during a media briefing at the ODOT Garage, 3220 Medina Road. The original planning study for this corridor began in 2003, with approval to move forward in 2005. The goal of the project is to improve safety by increasing capacity and reducing congestion to improve the flow of traffic along the corridor. "ODOT, Medina County Engineer, city of Medina, Medina and Montville townships, and our stakeholders are pleased this project will be moving forward," said ODOT District 3 Deputy Director Bob Weaver. "We want to remind motorists to always pay extra attention as they go through construction projects such as this, as traffic patterns change frequently and may not be the same as it was the day before." Scott Turcek, a 22-year employee of ODOT, will be the project engineer for the project. Fetchko Excavating Inc., of Medina, has been hired for the construction. He said Phase 1 of the project has already begun and will feature a retaining wall at River Styx Road and Route 18, installation of traffic signals at four intersections and temporary pavement. Phases 2, 3 and 4 will be in 2022 and will feature reconstruction and widening of Route 18 from the west end to Foote Road. It will widen from three lanes to five. Then it will widen Route 18 to seven lanes from River Styx to the east end. Phases 5, 6 and 7 will be in 2023 and will see the reconstruction and widening of Foote to River Styx from five to seven lanes. River Styx will be reconstructed from Route 18 to Smith Road, along with all the intersections on Route 18 from Foote to River Styx being reconstructed. All the pavement markings will be added in Phase 8 in 2024. "The benefits of the project will be added capacity, a new multiuse path and improvements in drainage, traffic signals and signage," Turcek said. "(This project) will bring much-needed relief to this ever-growing area." Weaver said there are 57 projects worth $147 million in District 3 planned in 2021. District 3 includes Medina, Ashland, Crawford, Erie, Huron, Lorain, Richland and Wayne counties. ODOT Director Jack Marchbanks said safety remains the top priority. "Sadly, traffic deaths continued to climb last year, even with fewer vehicles on our roads," he said. "We must continue to prioritize projects that make our roads safer for everyone who uses them." Contact reporter Bob Finnan at (330) 721-4049 or rfinnan@medina-gazette.com.