Ohio to Invest $90M in Silicon Heartland Transportation Upgrades

COLUMBUS, Ohio – The state will invest $90 million in transportation improvements in the area surrounding Intel’s future campus, known as the Silicon Heartland. 

The bulk of the investment, $66 million, will fund projects on local roadways in Delaware, Franklin and Licking counties, Gov. Mike DeWine and the Ohio Department of Transportation announced Monday. 

The investment includes reconstructing roadways, improving the safety and efficiency of intersections and making sure the local roadway network has the capacity to address the demands of the rapidly growing area.

“Much like everything we do in Ohio, economic development is a team sport,” DeWine said. “We are committed to working together with our local government partners to make sure we’re all meeting not only the demands of today, but tomorrow as well.”

The remaining $24 million will be used by ODOT for projects that create safer intersections and expand key corridors in the area.

“Our team has worked diligently to evaluate our existing system and speed up plans for growth,” said ODOT Director Jack Marchbanks. “These new projects are a direct result of local feedback, but our efforts don’t end here. We’ll continue working with our local partners to evaluate the transportation needs throughout the region.”

After Intel announced its plan to spend $20 billion to construct two manufacturing facilities in Licking County, DeWine directed ODOT to accelerate a project to add a third lane in each direction to state Route 161 between Interstate 270 and U.S. Route 62 to support the increase in traffic expected along the corridor.

“Infrastructure is the backbone of economic development and has a cascading effect leading to increased productivity, job creation and improved quality of life for residents,” Lt. Gov. Jon Husted said. “Investment in infrastructure is vital for promoting long-term economic growth and prosperity.”

Pictured at top: An artist’s rendering of the proposed $20 billion Intel project. (JobsOhio)

Published by The Business Journal, Youngstown, Ohio.