ROSSFORD, Ohio — Those delays on 75 northbound approaching downtown Toledo, are about to extend back further.
Here's what's to come with the already jammed up highway.
Starting Friday, interstate 75 improvements from Buck Road to South Avenue will begin.
This is part of the plan to both replace the DiSalle Bridge and straighten out 75 where there's a gradual curve at Wales Road that jams up traffic approaching the bridge.
That brings the construction zone now from Dorr Street down past Buck Road.
"Beginning next week, we're going to see some more restrictions. We're going to have overnight restrictions on southbound I-75 there around Wales and Buck so that we can set barrier wall, and then in a couple of weeks, we are going to push that northbound traffic bi-directional on the southbound lanes between Buck and Wales and that allows the crews to then construct the northbound lanes without having to maintain traffic right next to them," Ohio Department of Transportation spokesperson and Public Information Officer, Rebecca Dangelo said.
Just for this weekend, overnight Friday, Miami Street to southbound I-75 will be closed to set up the changes but it will reopen Saturday morning.
More permanently, also starting Friday, South Avenue to Southbound I-75 will close for about two years at least into December 2020, because there's not a way to maintain the ramp while building the new DiSalle Bridge.
"When it does reopen in two years, it will have a new look, and it will have a lot more space to get up to speed to match I-75 traffic. Right now, the current ramp just throws you right in, there's not a merging space, so it will be better, unfortunately it is going to be a two-year-closure of that ramp to get to that point," said Dangelo.
As for right now, drivers are not going to be able to see much bridge work being done unless you're underneath it.
Water traffic will still be maintained under half the bridge during the duration of the project.
Overall, this part of the project is set to cost $185 million, and has a completion date of 2023.
