Ohio Turnpike major 2026 projects include resurfacing near Youngstown, bridge work
In 2026, the Ohio Turnpike and Infrastructure Commission approved a budget of nearly $247 million for improvement projects across the state.
This includes roadway and bridge projects, including 114 lane miles of pavement improvements and extensive work on numerous bridges, with over 1,000 crew members on Ohio roads this season.
Chris Matta is the chief engineer and deputy executive director of the turnpike commission.
“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, mainly at night.”
Here are the projects getting underway in Trumbull and Mahoning counties:
There’s an ongoing pavement replacement project on the turnpike in Trumbull County.
The westbound pavement from milepost 216.1 to milepost 212.76 is getting replaced; the estimated completion date for the project is Dec. 11.
Two lanes of traffic will be maintained in each direction during the project, with periodic single-lane closures during off-peak hours.
For 90 days, the westbound entrance ramp at the Lordstown-West toll plaza 215 will be closed and detoured.
In Mahoning County, there’s a bridge replacement project, mainline slope repair project and resurfacing happening close to Youngstown.
One mainline resurfacing project, a mainline slope repair project, and a bridge replacement project in Mahoning County include:
All lanes and shoulders of the turnpike will be resurfaced from milepost 221.33 to milepost 225.9 in Youngstown.
The start date for the resurfacing project is June 15, with hopes to be completed by Nov. 15. While crews are resurfacing the road, two lanes of traffic will be maintained during the day, with traffic reduced to a single lane at night for the work.
The resurfacing project will continue in 2027 on all lanes starting back at milepost 225.9 until milepost 230.35.
Crews are working to repair the eastbound slope at milepost 222.35 on the Ohio Turnpike, with work expected to be completed by the end of August.
Two lanes of traffic will be maintained during the project, with periodic single-lane closures during off-peak hours.
There’s an ongoing overhead bridge replacement project at milepost 227.6 and Route 224 that’s expected to be completed by Oct. 15.
Two lanes of traffic will be maintained on the Ohio Turnpike, with periodic single-lane closures during off-peak hours. Traffic on U.S. Route 224 will be maintained with one lane in each direction.
National Work Zone Awareness Week is an annual campaign held each spring at the start of the highway construction season to encourage safe driving in work zones and keep workers safe.
The turnpike commission’s reminding all motorists to be self-aware of unsafe driving behaviors – such as speeding and distracted driving – in work zones during this construction season.
“Unsafe driving behaviors behind the wheel put motorists and highway workers at risk,” Matta said. . “We will have over 1,000 workers on the road during the construction season, and our goal is to get them home safely every day.”
Drivers behind the wheels of both passenger vehicles and commercial trucks can drive safely in work zones by:
- Establishing a safe following distance;
- Being prepared to slow down or stop;
- Maintaining the work zone speed limit;
- Avoiding distractions by putting your phone down; and
- Paying attention to the signs.
