Current News & Events

SR 53/Rt. 2 Detour:
10.04.23 ODOT UPDATE:

• 10/6/2023 – The project will be shifting traffic to the western side of SR53 on the newly widened section of SR53 to allow for widening of the eastern half of SR53 to begin.
• 10/9/2023 – State Rd will close for 7 days to allow for the completion of the eastern/westerns intersection tie ins.
• 11/10/2023 – The roundabout at State Rd and SR53 is expected to open.

Attached is a project update flyer that was passed out to the local businesses at the start of this week for an advance notification and update on the current project and upcoming closures. **At least one access to businesses will be maintained at all times.

SR269 Temporary Signal Update – Ohio Edison inspected the power service for the temporary signals last Friday. The project is following up with Edison to see when power will be fully provided so we can remove the portable signals from the intersection. The hope is that this can occur yet this week.

08/29/23 ODOT UPDATE:
When the SR 53/SR 2 interchange closes on September 5, traffic will be diverted to the SR 269/SR 2 Lakeside/Marblehead exit. ODOT is planning a temporary traffic signal (“light”) at the intersection of SR 269 South (Bridge Road) and Port Clinton Eastern Rd. The design of that temporary signal is currently in the works. Until that is finalized, ODOT will supply portable temporary traffic signals at this intersection.

1) Today (8/29/23) advance notification signage was placed stating that a signal will be implemented on 9/5/23.
2) ODOT should be able to get the portable traffic signals on site at the intersection most likely on Thursday this week (8/31/23). Their plan is to run the temporary signals on flash (yellow flash for SR 269 and red flash for Port Clinton Eastern) that will be the same as the current traffic configuration with the two-way stop. The goal is to get traffic used to the signals before they are activated. ODOT maintenance will control and maintain the portable signals until the temporary signal is in place.
3) Once the temporary signal design is completed, ODOT will notify the township regarding how long it will take to get it installed and active. Then the portable signals will be removed.

As soon as the Township Board of Trustees are notified of this information, the information will be posted here.
Please drive safely.

Edison/ Sandusky Bay Bridge Updates:
09/12/2023 ODOT UPDATE:
Beginning on Monday 9/18/23 the contractor for SR 2 reconstruction will be implementing Phase 2 traffic patterns at the spillway bridge. This will require the contractor to close the right lane for traffic traveling westbound across the Edison Bay bridge. After crossing the spillway bridge on the newly completed bridge surface traffic will transition to the right lane (current location) over the Norfolk Southern RR bridge.

08/09/23:
Kelsie Hoagland, ODOT District 2 Public Information Officer, provided the following information on August 9, 2023 regarding work on the Edison Bridge. Questions and concerns should be directed to her at (419) 373-4428 or by email D02.pio@dot.oh.gov. Project Engineer Kyle Ruedel stated "Through the Labor Day 2023 weekend NO RAMP closures will occur. While future multi-day ramp closures will be necessary for repaving, those closures will not happen until non-holiday seasonal times. For any ramp closure, ODOT and the contractor will provide sufficient public notice through the PIO office, project signing and message boards." Kelsie’s summary follows:

Over the past weekend the contractor was onsite after-hours Friday and Sunday responding to concerns about signage and other modifications in the zone, and to perform necessary prep work for the now-active construction project. Drainage modifications to the SR 2 over Norfolk Southern Railroad Bridge were observed to be necessary to prevent unsafe driving conditions to motorists. Much of the traffic striping had occurred prior to the weekend to prepare the contractor for work to occur overnight Sunday night into Monday morning. Unfortunately due to weather forecasts changing over the weekend the Sunday night work was necessarily rescheduled.

Single lane restrictions on SR 2 will be in place for the duration of the contract with a contract completion date of 10/31/2024. The contract requires that all work between SR269 and the east project limits (Edison Bay bridge) should be complete by May 15, 2024. The contractor schedule includes completing both phases of construction for both EB & WB SR 2 including deck overlays, approach slabs, semi-integral retrofit, installation of new bearings, new parapet walls, guardrail, asphalt paving, concrete sealing all prior to May 15, 2024 pending weather and railroad access.

Single lane configurations will continue through completion (October 2024) of the project on SR 2, however by May 15 two lanes should be available east of SR 269.

Our district bridge engineer also provided the following summary that elaborates a little more about the necessity of timing for these rehabilitations:

The OTT-2-2725 bridge over NS Railroad had expansion joints that failed. leaking water down onto the abutment beam seat.  Along with that, the concrete wearing surface was exhibiting cracks and had large unsound areas.  The work we are doing will eliminate the expansion joint and provide a new concrete wearing surface. Similarly, the OTT-2-2757 bridge over the Sandusky Bay overflow has a wearing surface that is exhibiting cracking, unsound areas, and delaminations.  This bridge was already converted to semi-integral in 1998, so the work on this project is to replace the concrete wearing surface. Our specifications for concrete overlays require placement by October 15^th due to temperatures required for curing.

ODOT District 2 understands the impact that traffic restrictions have on the Ottawa County community, especially the Lake Erie Shores & Islands area. I take responsibility for not contacting the township directly regarding the start of the project and I’m sorry for the negative impact it has had on your community.