Ohio 23 November 17, 2018 by Construction Equipment Guide

State Supplement sponsored by:

90 80 6 422

6 80 24

OHIO STATE EDITION

199

A Supplement to:

30 30 75

30 77

71 23 22 68

70 70

22 71

27 22 74

50 25

THOUSANDS of units in service

Shipment in 1-3 days

SAME DAY shipping on parts & tools FULLY SUPPORTED by a 75 YEAR FAMILY BUSINESS

November 17 2018

10% off 10,000 ft. lb. hammers

Vol. XVIIII • No. 23

“The Nation’s Best Read Construction Newspaper… Founded in 1957.” Your Ohio Connection: Ed Bryden, Strongsville, OH • 1-800-810-7640

Why pay more?

CALL 800-367-4937 *On approved credit • Financing Available

ODOT’s First SmartLane Aims at Quickening Commutes By Irwin Rapoport CEG CORRESPONDENT

Crews from Complete General Construction (CGC) have been working since June on the Ohio Department of Transportation’s (ODOT) $61 million Interstate 670 SmartLane and resurfacing project in Columbus. The project will not only upgrade road and bridge infrastructure, but also, through new signs and technology, reduce congestion and quicken the drive times of commuters and truckers. The SmartLane is the first to be built by ODOT. The road improvements are expected to be completed by the spring, with the new cameras and overhead signs to be installed in the summer of 2019, and the lane to be opened to traffic in the fall. The 7-mi. work zone covers the area from just east of I-71 to I-270 and John Glenn International Columbus Airport. To have the SmartLane ready for traffic, ODOT is rebuilding the shoulder lane on the left side of eastbound I670 to ensure the pavement is safe and passable. “It’s an extra travel lane that is only open during certain times when drivers need congestion relief most,” states an ODOT press release. “The ‘SmartLane’ is an ODOT pilot project and will be available for eastbound-only I-670 drivers from 3:30 to 6:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.” The speed limit will be 45 miles per hour when the SmartLane is open. Approximately 117,000 vehicles use this section of road daily. “The appeal of the SmartLane is the low cost and low impact that’s

The Ohio Department of Transportation is coordinating construction of a SmartLane with an interchange improvement project at I-670/I-270 and U.S. Route 62 in Columbus.

associated with widening a highway,” noted ODOT Director Jerry Wray. “This is repurposing the shoulder which already exists and making it available to drivers when it is needed most — in this case for the afternoon drive home. This project is a smart investment for Ohio. By investing in state-of-theart technology, we are able to decrease congestion in this corridor without the high costs and long timelines associated with highway widening.” The SmartLane is expected to reduce traffic delays by 25 percent. Overhead message boards will be placed every three quarters of a

mile to alert drivers when the SmartLane is available and whether any hazards, such as accidents or disabled vehicles, lie ahead. The lane will be open during off-peak times only if traffic conditions warrant a need for it. “It might sound counterintuitive,” said Wray, “but studies have shown traveling at slower speeds actually keeps traffic moving better because it avoids the ‘stop and go’ conditions which can cause more accidents. Ultimately, we believe the combination of the extra travel lane and the reduced speed limits will allow for a more

reliable commute for travelers along that route.” Thirty-six high-definition cameras will be installed along the SmartLane, allowing ODOT’s Statewide Traffic Management Center to monitor the SmartLane 24/7 and ensure there are no vehicles or debris in the lane before it opens to traffic, Wray added. ODOT is coordinating construction of the SmartLane with an interchange improvement project at I-670/I-270 and U.S. Route 62 that involves the construction of two ramp bridges, as well as a noise wall, and is expected to be completed in the summer of 2020.

Serving as the lead, Burgess & Niple designed the new infrastructure and SmartLane plan. The company was assisted by Gannett Fleming, which covered much of the ITS design, signage, and operational concepts; and by TranSystems Corporation for much of the road work. “The resurfacing operations are happening at night as we need to bring a major roadway down to one lane for the work,” said ODOT Construction Engineer Brian Gable. “The crews are doubleshifting as much as possible on the remainder of the work.” The new road infrastructure has a minimum lifespan of 20 years, and the design did not have to deal with major utility relocations, which has allowed construction to flow more smoothly. ODOT is working with two major power utilities — American Electrical Power Co. and the city of Columbus’s municipal power corporation — to set up the power access points. “We’re coordinating with them early on to make sure all the power devices for the entry signs, cameras, and lighting were set up ahead of time, and it’s borne some fruit during the construction and is compressing the schedule,” said ODOT Design Engineer Anthony Turowski. Complete General Construction, whose project manager is Jeremy Gilbert, is expected to complete the resurfacing operations in November, with interchange improvements to ramp up immediately. Motorists passing through the area are often under the impression that two separate projects are ongoing. see SMARTLANE page 6