Ohio Turnpike
James W. Shocknessy Ohio Turnpike | |
Route information | |
Maintained by OTIC[a] | |
Length | 241.26 mi (388.27 km) |
Existed | October 1, 1955[1]–present |
Component highways |
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Major junctions | |
West end | I-90 / Indiana Toll Road at Indiana state line |
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East end |
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Location | |
Country | United States |
State | Ohio |
Highway system | |
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The Ohio Turnpike, officially the James W. Shocknessy Ohio Turnpike, is a controlled-access toll road in the U.S. state of Ohio, serving as a primary corridor between Chicago and Pittsburgh. The road runs east–west for 241 miles (388 km) in the northern section of the state, with the western end at the Indiana–Ohio border near Edon where it meets the Indiana Toll Road, and the eastern end at the Ohio–Pennsylvania border near Petersburg, where it meets the Pennsylvania Turnpike. The road is owned and maintained by the Ohio Turnpike and Infrastructure Commission (OTIC), headquartered in Berea.[a]
Built from 1949 to 1955, construction for the roadway was completed a year prior to the
.Route description
The entire length of the Ohio Turnpike is 241.3 miles (388.3 km), from the western terminus in
The Ohio Turnpike does not pass directly into any major city, but does provide access to the four major metro areas in northern Ohio through connected routes. Two auxiliary Interstate highways,
.In
In
History
In 1947 a bill was introduced in the
On December 1, 1954, the first 22-mile (35 km) stretch (the portion lying east of
Originally, the turnpike offered 18 access points. Additional access points have since been provided, bringing the total number, including the Westgate and Eastgate toll barriers, to 31.[4] Not included in this count is the unnumbered interchange at SR 49, which opened on December 29, 1992. There are no ramp tolls at this interchange; the Westgate toll barrier was, at the same time, moved from its previous location near the Indiana state line[7] to its current location, which is east of SR 49.[8][9]
A project to add one lane in each direction from Toledo to Youngstown was started in 1996. The project, using financing from increased tolls, was originally projected to be finished in 2005, but was not completed until the end of the 2014 construction season.[10]
The Ohio Turnpike Commission began phasing in distance-based exit numbers in 1998 and the sequential numbering system was retired in September 2002. In 2009, the Ohio Turnpike Commission began accepting E-ZPass for toll payment at all plazas, and added gates to toll lanes to prevent motorists from evading tolls.
Speed limits
The Ohio Turnpike opened on October 1, 1955, with a 65 mph (105 km/h) limit for cars and 55 mph (89 km/h) limit for trucks. The automobile speed limit was increased on September 30, 1963, in concert with other Ohio rural Interstates to 70 mph (110 km/h).[16] Due to the National Maximum Speed Law, a 55 mph speed limit took effect in 1974 for all vehicles. The 55 mph limit remained until 1987 when the Ohio General Assembly adopted the federally permitted 65 mph maximum speed limit, but for automobiles only.
Governor Taft asked the Ohio Turnpike Commission to work with ODOT and the OSHP to formulate a plan to encourage truck traffic to use the turnpike instead of parallel highways, improving the safety of those other roadways. The three organizations created a plan with three points. The truck speed limit was increased from 55 to 65 mph (89 to 105 km/h) for consistency with the automobile limits. Enforcement of truck weight and speed limits on parallel highways was increased, and truck toll rates were lowered in a trial. The speed limit increase took effect on September 8, 2004.[17]
The Ohio Turnpike has had uniform limits for all vehicles since 2004. On December 20, 2010, the Ohio Turnpike Commission voted to increase the speed limit of the Ohio Turnpike to 70 mph. Despite opposition from the Ohio Trucking Association, the increase was approved by the Commission by a vote of 4–1[18][19] and went into effect on April 1, 2011.[20]
Services
The Ohio Turnpike has had service plazas since its inception. Service plazas differ from typical freeway rest areas in that they offer amenities such as 24-hour food and fuel service; motorists do not have to pass through toll booths to re-fuel, use the restroom, or eat.
In 1998, The Ohio Turnpike Commission began modernizing its service plazas, first demolishing the original plazas and then reconstructing them from the ground up. Initially, the new plazas were rebranded by signage depicting them as "travel centers", but reverted back to the original nomenclature.
In addition to modern restrooms, the new plazas offer several
Service plazas are located in pairs (one for each side of the turnpike) near mile markers 20, 76, 100, 139, 170, 197, and 237.
The service plazas located in
Since the turnpike opened, the Ohio Turnpike Commission has contracted with the
Tolls
Tolls are based upon the distance traveled, as well as the height and axle-count of vehicle driven. As of January 2022[update], the toll for a 2-axle vehicle or a motorcycle to travel the entire turnpike is $14.00 for E-ZPass holders and $20.50 for non E-ZPass holders.[28] For purposes of toll calculation, as these barriers are not actually exits, the Westgate toll barrier is counted as exit 2 and the Eastgate toll barrier is counted as exit 239 on toll tickets.[29]
The Ohio Turnpike Commission had been hesitant to deploy an electronic tolling system, citing an apparent lack of commuter travel as well as significant implementation expenses. In December 2006, the commission indicated their intention to move forward with the implementation of an E-ZPass-compatible system as a "customer convenience".[30] The system was activated on October 1, 2009.[31] In 2009, the turnpike became the first publicly owned toll facility in the U.S.—and the second overall—to allow users to pay tolls with a debit or credit card.[32]
In April 2008, Governor Ted Strickland and legislative leaders announced a planned stimulus package that would redistribute Turnpike tolls to road projects throughout the state.[33][34] On May 23, the Ohio Senate Finance Committee voted to pass a new version of the package which would not involve tolls collected.[35]
In March 2019, the turnpike commission announced plans to add high-speed E-ZPass lanes to the Westgate and Eastgate toll plazas, allowing E-ZPass users to travel through the toll areas at 70 mph (110 km/h).[36][37] Two other mainline barriers were built, and tolls ceased to be collected at exits between each respective new barrier and the nearest existing toll plaza.[38][39][40] The construction also features new patron dynamic message signs that provide drivers with dynamic messaging.[41] Part of the largest building program on the toll road since its original opening in 1955, the system was implemented on April 10, 2024.[42]
Exit list
Until 1998, the turnpike numbered exits sequentially, but afterwards started the process of renumbering them by the milepost system. This was done to "alleviate confusion from the irregular sequence of numerical references" due to recently added interchanges as well as to conform to federal standards.[43] The conversion ran from January 1998[44] to September 2002[45] with dually posted numbers during that period.
County | Location[46][47] | mi[29] | km | Old exit | New exit[29] | Destinations | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Chicago | Continuation into Indiana | ||||||
2.0 | 3.2 | — | — | SR 49 | Diamond interchange | ||
4 | 6.4 | — | 4 | Westgate Toll Barrier | Exits 13 through 39 not tolled | ||
US 20A – Bryan, Montpelier | |||||||
Brady Township | 20.8 | 33.5 | Indian Meadow Service Plaza (westbound) Tiffin River Service Plaza (eastbound) | ||||
Fulton | Franklin Township | 25.5 | 41.0 | 2A | 25 | SR 66 – Archbold, Fayette | |
Dover Township | 34.9 | 56.2 | 3 | 34 | SR 108 – Wauseon | ||
Pike Township | 39.8 | 64.1 | 3B | 39 | SR 109 – Delta, Lyons | ||
Swanton Township | 49.0 | 78.9 | Oak Openings Service Plaza (westbound) Fallen Timbers Service Plaza (eastbound) Demolished[b] | ||||
— | 49 | Swanton Toll Barrier | Western end of ticket system | ||||
Monclova Township | 52.6 | 84.7 | 3A | 52 | SR 2 – Swanton, Toledo Airport | ||
Maumee | 59.5 | 95.8 | 4 | 59 | US 20 to I-475 / US 23 – Maumee, Toledo, Ann Arbor | ||
Wood | Rossford | 64.9 | 104.4 | 4A | 64 | I-75 – Toledo, Dayton | I-75 exit 195[48] |
Lake Township | 71.7 | 115.4 | 5 | 71 | I-280 north / SR 420 south – Toledo, Detroit, Stony Ridge | I-280 exit 1A | |
Harris Township | 76.9 | 123.8 | Blue Heron Service Plaza (westbound) Wyandot Service Plaza (eastbound) | ||||
81.8 | 131.6 | 5A | 81 | SR 51 – Elmore, Woodville, Gibsonburg | |||
Sandusky | Sandusky Township | 91.6 | 147.4 | 6 | 91 | SR 53 – Fremont, Port Clinton | |
Riley Township | 100.0 | 160.9 | Erie Islands Service Plaza (westbound) Commodore Perry Service Plaza (eastbound) | ||||
Groton Township | 110.2 | 177.3 | 6A | 110 | SR 4 – Sandusky, Bellevue | ||
Milan Township | 118.5 | 190.7 | 7 | 118 | US 250 – Sandusky, Norwalk | ||
Lorain | Brownhelm Township | 135.9 | 218.7 | 7A | 135 | To SR 2 / Baumhart Road – Vermilion | |
Amherst Township | 139.5 | 224.5 | Middle Ridge Service Plaza (westbound) Vermilion Valley Service Plaza (eastbound) | ||||
140.6 | 226.3 | 7B[c] | 140 | SR 58 – Amherst, Oberlin | |||
Cleveland | Eastbound exit and westbound entrance; eastern end of I-90 concurrency | ||||||
Elyria | 145.5 | 234.2 | 8 | 145 | SR 57 – Lorain, Elyria | ||
Cleveland | Eastbound exit and westbound entrance | ||||||
152.2 | 244.9 | 9 | 152 | To Cleveland | Westbound access to I-480 | ||
Cleveland | I-71 exit 233 | ||||||
Broadview Heights | 170.1 | 273.7 | Great Lakes Service Plaza (westbound) Towpath Service Plaza (eastbound) | ||||
Cleveland | |||||||
Boston Heights | 180.3 | 290.2 | 12 | 180 | SR 8 – Akron | ||
Portage | Streetsboro | 187.2 | 301.3 | 13 | 187 | I-480 west / SR 14 – Streetsboro | |
Shalersville Township | 193.9 | 312.1 | 13A | 193 | SR 44 – Ravenna | ||
Freedom Township | 197.0 | 317.0 | Portage Service Plaza (westbound) Brady's Leap Service Plaza (eastbound) | ||||
Trumbull | Braceville Township | 209.2 | 336.7 | 14 | 209 | SR 5 – Warren | |
211 | 340 | — | 211 | Newton Falls Toll Barrier | Eastern end of ticket system, exits 215-234 not tolled | ||
Lordstown | 215.0 | 346.0 | 14A | 215 | Ellsworth–Bailey Road – Lordstown West | Eastbound exit and westbound entrance | |
216.4 | 348.3 | 14B | 216 | General Motors Parkway – Lordstown East | Westbound exit and eastbound entrance; to SR 45 | ||
Mahoning | Jackson Township | 218.7 | 352.0 | 15 | 218 | I-80 east – Youngstown, New York City | Eastern terminus of I-80 concurrency; eastbound exit and westbound entrance; includes direct exit/entrance ramps to/from CR 18 (Mahoning Avenue) |
Western terminus of I-76 concurrency; westbound exit and eastbound entrance; includes direct exit/entrance ramps to/from CR 18 (Mahoning Avenue) | |||||||
Beaver Township | 232.9 | 374.8 | 16 | 232 | SR 7 – Youngstown | ||
234.1 | 376.7 | 16A | 234 | I-680 north – Youngstown, Poland | Westbound exit and eastbound entrance | ||
Springfield Township | 237.2 | 381.7 | Mahoning Valley Service Plaza (westbound) Glacier Hills Service Plaza (eastbound) | ||||
239.1 | 384.8 | — | 239 | Eastgate Toll Barrier | Westbound only | ||
241.3 | 388.3 | Pittsburgh | Continuation east into Pennsylvania | ||||
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi
|
See also
Notes
References
- ^ ISBN 1-57860-191-6.[page needed]
- ^ Ohio General Assembly (July 1, 2013). "5537.02 Ohio turnpike and infrastructure commission". Ohio Revised Code. Retrieved September 2, 2013.
- ^ a b Grant, Alison (September 24, 2015). "Ohio Turnpike Opened 60 Years Ago to Swarms of Onlookers at Midnight Ceremony". The Plain Dealer. Cleveland. Retrieved September 28, 2015.
- ^ a b Ohio Turnpike Commission (n.d.). "History: A Dream Realized..." Ohio Turnpike Commission. Archived from the original on August 3, 2009. Retrieved August 11, 2009.
- ^ Ohio State Highway Patrol (n.d.). "Chapter 3: Giant Strides, 1946–1964". The First 60 Years, A History of Service. Ohio State Highway Patrol. Archived from the original on March 2, 2008. Retrieved July 10, 2007.
- ^ "Exit on Ohio Turnpike Closed". The Pittsburgh Press. August 16, 1956. p. 7. Retrieved August 27, 2012.
- ^ United States Geological Survey (1990). Clear Lake, Ind.–Ohio–Mich (Topographic map). 1:24,000. 7.5 minute. Reston, VA: United States Geological Survey. Archived from the original (PDF) on April 8, 2013. Retrieved August 27, 2012.
- ^ Lewis, Herb (December 30, 1992). "Turnpike Exchange near Edon Is Officially Opened". The Bryan Times. Retrieved August 26, 2012.
- The Blade. Toledo, OH. Retrieved August 26, 2012.
- ^ Grant, Alison (January 15, 2014). "Ohio Turnpike's Final Third-lane Section to Be Built This Summer; Other Turnpike Construction Planned This Year". The Plain Dealer. Cleveland. Retrieved January 26, 2014.
- ^ Theis, Sandy (June 4, 2006). "Leasing Turnpike: A Road to Riches? Blackwell Says His Plan Could Net Millions for Cities, but Others Urge Caution". The Plain Dealer. Cleveland. Retrieved June 18, 2008.
- ^ Pierce, Gene (January 24, 2006). "Lease Turnpike to Create $4–6 Billion Job Development Fund" (Press release). Ohioans for Blackwell. Archived from the original on November 1, 2006. Retrieved June 18, 2008.
- PolitiFact Ohio. Retrieved January 24, 2011.
- ^ Fields, Reginald (August 12, 2011). "Gov. John Kasich Moves Ahead with Turnpike Leasing Proposal". The Plain Dealer. Cleveland. Retrieved August 12, 2011.
- ^ Breckenridge, Tom (December 13, 2012). "Gov. Kasich Wants to Issue $1.5 Billion in Ohio Turnpike Debt for Projects in Northern Ohio". The Plain Dealer. Cleveland. Retrieved December 13, 2012.
- ^ Ohio Turnpike Commission CFO/Comptroller’s Office and the Office of Public Affairs & Marketing (March 16, 2006). "Comprehensive Annual Financial Report for the Year Ended December 31, 2005" (PDF). Berea: Ohio Turnpike Commission. p. 22. Archived from the original (PDF) on May 29, 2014. Retrieved May 29, 2014.
- ^ Ohio Turnpike Commission CFO/Comptroller’s Office and the Office of Public Affairs & Marketing (March 16, 2006). "Comprehensive Annual Financial Report for the Year Ended December 31, 2005" (PDF). Berea: Ohio Turnpike Commission. p. 28. Archived from the original (PDF) on May 29, 2014. Retrieved May 29, 2014.
- ^ Ohio Turnpike Commission (December 20, 2010). "Resolution Providing for a Uniform Speed Limit of 70 MPH for the Entire Ohio Turnpike" (PDF). Ohio Turnpike Commission. Archived from the original (PDF) on December 27, 2010. Retrieved December 20, 2010.
- ^ Ewinger, James (December 20, 2010). "Ohio Turnpike Commission Votes To Raise Toll Road's Speed Limit to 70 mph". The Plain Dealer. Cleveland. Retrieved December 20, 2010.
- ^ Breckenridge, Tom (April 1, 2011). "Ohio Turnpike Drivers Can Press the Pedal a Bit More as Speed Limit Climbs to 70 mph". The Plain Dealer. Cleveland. Retrieved April 2, 2011.
- ^ Maykuth, Andrew (December 24, 2010). "Sunoco Adding Sales Outlets in Ohio, N.Y." The Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved March 5, 2012.
- ^ a b Ohio Turnpike Commission (n.d.). "Service Plazas". Ohio Turnpike Commission. Archived from the original on October 6, 2012. Retrieved October 20, 2012.
- ^ Ohio Turnpike Commission (May 16, 2005). "Resolution Approving the Acquisition of Right-of-Way for Construction of Service Plaza Facilities in Fulton County". Ohio Turnpike Commission. Archived from the original on September 27, 2007. Retrieved August 7, 2011.
- ^ a b Staff (August 16, 2005). "Williams County Turnpike Plazas Will Be Closed". The Blade. Toledo, OH. Archived from the original on September 30, 2007. Retrieved August 7, 2011.
- ^ Farkas, Karen (November 2, 2009). "Whatever Happened to ...?: Whatever Happened to Plans To Add a Third Lane to the Ohio Turnpike and Replace the Eight Sets of Service Plazas?". The Plain Dealer. Cleveland. Retrieved November 3, 2009.
- ^ Ohio Turnpike Commission (August 15, 2005). "Resolution Authorizing the Closure of Indian Meadow and Tiffin River Service Plazas at Milepost 20.8 in Williams County". Ohio Turnpike Commission. Archived from the original on May 24, 2006. Retrieved August 7, 2011.
- ^ Breckenridge, Tom (August 18, 2012). "Ohio Turnpike Says Problems with Contractor Delay New Service Plazas". The Plain Dealer. Retrieved August 18, 2012.
- ^ "Ohio Turnpike Tolls And Toll Calculator". turnpikeinfo.com. Retrieved May 20, 2022.
- ^ a b c Ohio Turnpike Commission (n.d.). "Interchanges". Ohio Turnpike Commission. Archived from the original on August 17, 2011. Retrieved August 7, 2011; Ohio Turnpike Commission; Travel Boards (2012). Ohio Turnpike Map & Lodging Guide (Map). Berea: Ohio Turnpike Commission.
- ^ Ohio Turnpike Commission (n.d.). "E-ZPass Frequently Asked Questions". Ohio Turnpike Commission. Archived from the original on July 27, 2011. Retrieved August 7, 2011.
- ^ Farkas, Karen (October 2, 2009). "E-ZPass Debut Has Bugs, but Turnpike Officials Are on the Case". The Plain Dealer. Cleveland. Retrieved October 2, 2009.
- ^ Farkas, Karen (June 8, 2009). "Ohio Turnpike To Let Drivers Pay Tolls with Credit, Debit Cards". The Plain Dealer. Cleveland. Retrieved June 8, 2009.
- ^ Marshall, Aaron (April 3, 2008). "Ohio Tries To Retain Top Talent in College; Internship Plan Raids Tobacco, Turnpike Funds". The Plain Dealer. Cleveland. Retrieved April 8, 2008.
- ^ Hollander, Sarah; Marshall, Aaron (April 5, 2008). "Turnpike Officials Unsure What Revenue Loss Will Mean". The Plain Dealer. Cleveland. Retrieved April 8, 2008.
- ^ Marshall, Aaron (May 23, 2008). "State Stimulus Package Won't Include Turnpike Funds". The Plain Dealer. Cleveland. Retrieved May 28, 2008.
- ^ Gauntner, Mike (March 19, 2019). "Ohio Turnpike plans to remove toll gates". WFMJ. Retrieved March 19, 2019.
- ^ Ahmed, Ferzan M. (March 2019). "Priorities Include Modernizing our Toll Collection System". Customer Connection. Ohio Turnpike and Infrastructure Commission. Retrieved March 21, 2019.
- ^ Patch, David (December 12, 2021). "With Barrier-Free Tolls on Horizon, Ohio Turnpike Faces Challenge from Out-of-State Scofflaws". The Blade. Toledo, OH. Retrieved February 2, 2022.
- ^ Ohio Turnpike and Infrastructure Commission (n.d.). "Toll Collection System Modernization". Ohio Turnpike and Infrastructure Commission. Archived from the original on January 15, 2022. Retrieved February 4, 2022.
- ^ "More Truckers Opt to Use E-ZPass on Ohio Turnpike". Transport Topics. November 24, 2022.
- ^ "Big changes underway along Ohio Turnpike: What you can expect amid removal of gates at toll plazas, lane conversions". WKYC-TV. August 24, 2022.
- ^ VanMetre, Elizabeth (April 10, 2024). "Ohio Turnpike Launches New Toll Collection System". News 5 Cleveland. Cleveland: WEWS-TV. Retrieved April 10, 2024.
- ^ Ohio Turnpike Commission (n.d.). "Interchange Number Conversion". Ohio Turnpike Commission. Archived from the original on December 4, 2002. Retrieved February 20, 2019.
- ^ Hakos Dehrmann, Lauren (May 23, 2002). "Plans Underway to Switch Interchange Numbers to Milemarkers" (Press release). Ohio Turnpike Commission. Archived from the original on June 9, 2002. Retrieved February 20, 2019.
- ^ Hakos Dehrmann, Lauren (September 13, 2002). "Turnpike Interchange Signs Switching Over This Month" (Press release). Ohio Turnpike Commission. Archived from the original on December 4, 2002. Retrieved February 20, 2019.
- ]
- ^ DeLorme (2007). Street Atlas USA (Map). DeLorme.
- ^ Harvey, Hank (December 5, 1991). "Perrysburg I-75 Link to Turnpike Opens". The Blade. Toledo, OH. Retrieved April 2, 2013.
- ^ "Interchanges [91 to 161]". Ohio Turnpike Commission. c. 1999. Archived from the original on January 19, 2000. Retrieved February 25, 2023.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link) - ^ Dehrmann, Lauren (November 29, 2004). "Long-awaited interchange at S.R. 58 scheduled to open" (Press release). Ohio Turnpike Commission. Archived from the original on December 15, 2004. Retrieved February 25, 2023.
{{cite press release}}
: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)