Three Lorain County road projects funded by ODOT coming in 2025

The Ohio Department of Transportation and Gov. Mike DeWine's office on Friday announced $121 million in funding for new traffic safety projects statewide, including three in Lorain County in the coming years. The funding will support project development, right of way and construction of 50 projects in 31 counties across the state, including about two dozen roundabouts. The three projects in Lorain County are: • $2.6 million to construct a roundabout at U.S. 20 and state Route 511 in Camden Township, south of Kipton, in fiscal year 2025. • $620,000 on turn lane, signal and pedestrian improvements at the intersection of Route 611 and Colorado Avenue in Lorain, in fiscal year 2025. • $348,300 to improve signal visibility with mast arms and reflective back plates at North Ridge Road and Elyria Avenue in Lorain, in fiscal year 2025. In a news release, DeWine said one of his top priorities has been making dangerous Ohio intersections safer. "Studies show that roundabouts significantly reduce the likelihood of serious or deadly intersection crashes, so we're investing in these projects today to save lives in the future," he said. According to ODOT, there were were only six traffic deaths at Ohio roundabouts from 2017-2021, compared with 1,126 deaths at a signalized or stop-controlled intersection. The injury crash rate at roundabouts is half that at traditional intersections or at other traffic signals, according to ODOT. Federal Highway Administration studies show roundabouts mean a 44 percent reduction in crashes, and reduce serious injury and deadly crashes by nearly 90 percent compared to two-way stop intersections. When roundabouts replace a traffic signal, the FHWA found a 48 percent reduction in crashes and nearly 80 percent drop in serious injury and deadly crashes, according to ODOT. "Roundabouts save lives. They reduce severe crashes, move traffic more efficiently, and are cheaper to maintain than signalized intersections," ODOT Director Jack Marchbanks said. Funding for these projects will be awarded through ODOT's Highway Safety Improvement Program. The governor's office previously announced $51 million in traffic safety improvement projects in May. Also this year, ODOT and DeWine announced an additional $47.5 million for local bridge projects over the next five years.