A $274 million project that's been planned for decades is finally under way in Ohio. As part of the U.S. 33 expansion effort, a total of 25 mi. of U.S. 33 in Athens and Meigs Counties will be converted from two lanes to a four-lane, divided highway.

ODOT District 10 photo

"These are the last remaining two-lane segments of U.S. 33 between Columbus and the Ohio River," said Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) District 10 spokesperson Ashley Rittenhouse. "U.S. 33 is the direct route between central Ohio and the southeastern U.S. via a connection with Interstate 77. It's an emerging freight corridor, with trucks making up an increasing percentage of the average daily traffic.

"More than 20 years ago, ODOT secured the right-of-way necessary to expand these sections to four lanes. Connect4Ohio funding made the project a reality. Due to the increasing amount of truck traffic on the corridor and ODOT's continued focus on improving safety for roadway users, it's an ideal time for this project to occur."

In June 2024, state and local leaders took part in the official groundbreaking. They were joined by representatives for Kokosing Construction, the general contractor.

"Kokosing Construction was the low bidder on each section," said Rittenhouse. "We look forward to partnering with them on this project over the next few years."

Rock blasting is a major component of the project, which includes building 10 new bridges, resurfacing the existing roadway and making minor drainage improvements. Rittenhouse said the finished product will be worth the wait.

ODOT District 10 photo

"This project has many benefits, but improving safety is the most rewarding part," he said "There's an expectation that traffic volumes will grow after the project is complete, as the multi-lane and higher speed limits will be attractive to drivers."

According to Scott Kennedy, ODOT District 10 project engineer, things are going well on the Five Points to Ravenswood section.

"The weather has generally been conducive to construction. There are always a few issues that arise, but so far, we have partnered well to get those resolved and continue progressing efficiently.

"The connecting roads will be closed for 10 days to tie into the new road alignment. The roads that have bridges spanning over them will be closed during the setting of bridge beams. There will be longer closures of connecting roads on the Athens section."

ODOT District 10 area engineer Daniel McDonald acknowledged the Athens corridor is getting a slower start than anticipated.

"With the fast pace of the plan preparation, we had to wait on permits from outside agencies. The Athens corridor involves the construction of full limited access interchanges and will provide the most construction challenges, while the Meigs corridor will consist of at-grade intersections."

Crews will be tasked with maintaining local access to U.S. 33 during construction while the interchanges are complete. The plan is to build the interchanges in separate phases, with detours in place while each is constructed.

"Another challenge with the Athens corridor is that most of the excavation is located at the southeast end of the corridor, and most of the embankment needs to be constructed at the northwest end of the corridor," said McDonald. "It's not practical to haul material that far, so the contractor plans to use borrow and waste areas to limit their haul distances. The Meigs corridor is more balanced. The contractor plans to start on the west end and work towards the east until the project is complete."

McDonald noted that tree clearing contracts were sold and completed ahead of the roadway work.

"Now that roadway work has begun, excavation and embankment is the primary focus. The contractor has already moved approximately 300,000 cu. yds. of excavation and 300,000 cu. yds. of embankment."

ODOT District 10 photo

On the Five Points to Ravenswood section, various activities are taking place. Crews are completing mass excavation, constructing fills, installing drainage structures and pipes. Final grading is being completed on some slopes, where applicable. Waste areas are being prepped for use, and a drilled shaft retaining wall is being installed.

Blasting is required where rock excavation is necessary. It will take place throughout the entirety of the project. During blasting operations, rolling roadblocks will be in place on U.S. 33.

"Blasting is necessary to break rocks and rock layers that cannot be excavated by other means," said Kennedy. "The amount of blasting is unknown. The areas are determined as the excavation progresses. Blasting usually occurs one or two times per day, pending weather. There will be some presplitting eventually, but the work right now is production blasting."

John Coen, ODOT District 10 design engineer, said due to the projected increase in truck traffic and the high number of crashes, it was determined that the additional two lanes of U.S. 33 were needed.

"Based on the traffic counts, pavement design was performed along with the intersection layout. Plans were prepared for the new roadbed, signage, drainage and bridges needed to meet today's safety standards.

"The two existing lanes of U.S. 33 will become the eastbound lanes of the completed four-lane highway. Joint repair will be completed on the existing concrete pavement and then it will be overlayed with 3.75 in. of asphalt."

ODOT District 10 photo

The contractor is excavating with drag pans and excavators, hauling with articulating trucks and large off-road rock trucks. Drills are being used for rock blasting and for a drilled shaft wall at the toe of a slope on the Meigs corridor. They also have several locations on the Athens corridor where they are currently assembling excavators and large rock trucks.

Athens to Darwin work includes roughly 3,643,000 cu. yds. of excavation; close to 3,929,000 cu. yds. of embankment; 51,422 cu. yds. of asphalt; and constructing four interchanges and seven new bridges.

Five Points to Ravenswood construction involves nearly 3,077,000 cu. yds. of excavation; 1,095,000 cu. yds. of embankment; 68,249 cu. yds. of asphalt; and building three new bridges.

Given that the project continues through 2028, it's difficult to predict how the elements will impact the work still to come. The goal is to stay on schedule as much as possible, and work through any weather delays.

Rittenhouse said that the U.S. 33 expansion project is a perfect example of ODOT's mission to provide a transportation system that is safe, accessible, well maintained and positioned for the future.

"We look forward to its completion and appreciate the public's patience over the next few years." CEG