Ohio is kicking off what officials are calling a historic construction season, with the Ohio Department of Transportation announcing a record $3.2 billion worth of infrastructure upgrades across the state. The 2024 construction slate includes 955 separate projects, 38 of which the agency classifies as “major” — meaning each comes with a price tag of over $10 million.

The expansive list of projects largely falls into two categories: infrastructure improvements and safety enhancements. According to an April 3 news release from the department, work is already underway to upgrade 5,538 miles of roadway and repair or rehabilitate 844 bridges. In addition, 171 of the projects are specifically focused on boosting roadway safety — an area the department is emphasizing as part of its broader mission.

“This year we will see a very significant investment in our transportation infrastructure — one that will improve safety, reduce traffic fatalities and keep people and goods moving efficiently,” said Ohio DOT Director Pamela Boratyn in the release.

Major Projects Taking Shape

Among the more than 900 projects are several high-profile improvements scattered across the state. In central Ohio, a region seeing significant growth and congestion, 94 projects totaling $446 million are in the pipeline — eight of which qualify as major under the state’s definition.

Some of the central Ohio initiatives include:

• I-70/I-270/Brice Road Westbound Interchange Improvements, part of the ongoing Far East Freeway expansion in Columbus.
• Pavement reconstruction on I-70 in Franklin County, stretching from the Madison County line to Hilliard Rome Road.
• U.S. 42 resurfacing between U.S. 33 and State Route 745 in Union County.
• A new interchange at U.S. 33 and Pickerington Road in Fairfield County.
• State Route 208 reconstruction in Muskingum County.

Meanwhile, the state will also continue progress on the Brent Spence Bridge Corridor Project, a massive $3.6 billion undertaking aimed at modernizing the heavily trafficked connection between Ohio and Kentucky.

Safety in the Spotlight

With National Work Zone Safety Awareness Week coinciding with the launch of many of these projects, Ohio DOT is also highlighting the importance of protecting workers and drivers in construction zones.

“Our crews work inches away from fast-moving traffic. Drivers have a role in making sure they get home safely,” the agency noted, urging the public to stay alert, slow down, and obey signage in work areas.

Infrastructure Boom Extends Beyond Roads

While the Ohio DOT focuses on public infrastructure, the state is also a hub of private sector construction activity, especially in technology and data. Columbus, in particular, has become a magnet for tech development, and several major projects are underway in the capital region.

The most notable of these is Intel’s $28 billion Ohio One campus in New Albany — a massive semiconductor manufacturing project that includes two planned chip factories. Though the project has faced delays, it remains one of the most ambitious industrial developments in the state’s history.

Nearby, Vantage Data Centers is investing $2 billion into a new campus, adding to the surge of digital infrastructure being built to support cloud computing and AI technologies.

Together, these public and private investments paint a picture of a state in transformation — one that’s investing not only in safer, more efficient transportation, but also in the backbone of tomorrow’s digital economy.

Originally reported by Matthew Thibault in Construction Dive.