The Ohio Department of Transportation kicked-off their 2025 construction season at the location of one of their major projects for the year- the new interchange at U.S. 24 and Henry County road 17-D. The state is investing over 3-billion dollars into road and bridge construction this year, covering 955 projects.
The U.S. 24 corridor figures big in ODOT’s plans, including the new interchange near Okolona, with a price tag of 12.3 million dollars. At that same time, an overpass will be built over U.S. 24 at Independence Road near Jewell. The Henry County Road 17-D interchange will likely take two construction seasons to complete. ODOT District Director Patrick McColley pointed to safety as the reason for the project. He reported I-75 carries the most truck traffic in the state. But U.S. 24 between Napoleon and Defiance carries even more truck traffic than some sections on I-75.
Local and state government officials were on-hand for the construction kickoff; along with community residents likely to be impacted by the project.