Ohio Turnpike announces upcoming construction projects, 2 in Mahoning Valley
Construction crews will soon be back out on the Ohio Turnpike working on roadway repairs and bridge projects across the state.
Starting April 1, crews will be resurfacing and reconstructing miles of pavement along the turnpike and on bridges, including two projects in the Mahoning Valley.
Chris Matta is the chief engineer and deputy executive director of the Ohio Turnpike Infrastructure Commission which approved nearly $319 million for capital improvement projects in 2025.
“To limit delays for travelers on the Ohio Turnpike, we strive to maintain two lanes of traffic in all three lane sections of the turnpike during peak travel times,” Matta said. “Some single lane work zones will be necessary but will occur mostly during off-peak travel times or at night.”
Mahoning County
Crews will be starting an overhead bridge project in Canfield Township on April 1.
They’re planning on replacing the overhead bridge at milepost 227.6, located at Boardman-Canfield Road and U.S. Route 224.
Traffic on the bridge will be down to one lane in each direction for the duration of the project, which is expected to be completed in summer of 2026.
Trumbull County
The second Ohio Turnpike project in the Mahoning Valley is a pavement replacement from milepost 212.76 to 216.25 near Lordstown in Trumbull County.
Starting April 1 through November, two lanes of traffic will be maintained in each direction during the project.
The Lordstown-West eastbound exit ramp at Toll Plaza 215 will be closed for a 60-day period beginning around Aug. 1.
All three lanes of traffic in each direction will be restored at the end of the 2025 construction season.
The project will continue in 2026.
Safe driving reminders in construction zones
As the roadway construction season begins, the commission wants all motorists to be self-aware of unsafe driving behaviors –such as speeding and distracted driving – when driving through work zones.
“Unsafe driving behaviors behind the wheel put our maintenance/roadway crews and contractors at risk in work zones,” Matta said.
National Work Zone Awareness Week is an annual spring campaign held at the start of construction season to encourage safe driving through highway work zones.
The campaign will be held from April 21 through April 25.
Matta said during the peak construction season, there are up to 1,300 workers on the Ohio Turnpike.
“Our goal is to get them home safely every day,” he said.
All motorists can drive safely in-and-around work zones by:
- Establishing a safe following distance;
- Being prepared to slow down or stop;
- Maintaining the work zone speed limit. (Lane widths are reduced, and the lanes have been shifted and are narrow with no shoulders);
- Avoiding distractions; and
- Paying attention to the signs.