Construction Begins On U.S. 33 Expansion
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(Marietta) – State and local leaders, Kokosing Construction representatives, and others joined the Ohio Department of Transportation on Monday to officially mark the start of construction on a U.S. 33 expansion project in Athens and Meigs Counties.
About the project
A total of 25 miles of U.S. 33 in Athens and Meigs Counties will be converted from a two-lane highway to a four-lane, divided highway.
Upgrade of U.S. 33 between Athens and Darwin
- Converting 10.78 miles of the 2-lane highway to a 4-lane highway
- Converting the following intersections with U.S. 33 to interchanges: Pleasant Hill, Pleasanton Road, Rainbow Lake Road, State Route 681
- Building 7 new bridges
- Resurfacing the existing U.S. 33 roadway
Upgrade of U.S. 33 between SR 7 and Ravenswood
- Converting 14.19 miles of the 2-lane highway to a 4-lane divided highway
- Adding left turn lanes to at-grade intersections throughout the corridor
- Building 3 new bridges
- Minor drainage improvements
- Resurfacing the existing U.S. 33 roadway
Project Significance
These are the last remaining two-lane segments of U.S. 33 between Columbus and the Ohio River. U.S. 33 is the direct route between Central Ohio and the southeastern U.S. via a connection with Interstate 77. It is an emerging freight corridor, with trucks making up an increasing percentage of the average daily traffic.
“Road construction projects of this magnitude don’t happen very often in southeastern Ohio, so we’re excited to get started” said ODOT District 10 Deputy Director Rich Oster. “With this $274 million investment, we are improving safety and efficiency, and ensuring the U.S. 33 corridor through Athens and Meigs Counties is positioned for the future.”
Traffic Impacts
This year, drivers could encounter flaggers maintaining traffic at side roads intersecting U.S. 33. Traffic impacts will be updated on OHGO throughout the construction process. Construction is estimated to end in 2028.
