CLEVELAND — More than $60 million of Ohio Department of Transportation funds will go towards building new roundabouts and other traffic safety projects to reduce crashes in 14 counties, Gov. Mike DeWine announced Wednesday.
$63 million in funding from ODOT's Highway Safety Improvement Program will support 19 safety projects across the states, with a dozen roundabouts and four cable barriers among the planned improvements.
"We're always looking at how we can make our transportation system safer," Gov. DeWine said in a press release. "These projects will make improvements that will help reduce the number of crashes, making it safer for those who travel in these areas each day."
According to Federal Highway Administration studies, roundabouts reduce crashes by 44% and lower crashes resulting in serious injury or death by almost 90% when installed at two-way stop intersections. The FHWA found a similar trend line when roundabouts replace traffic signals.
In a University of Dayton study, cable barriers were found to be 74% effective at reducing crashes and 80% effecting in stopping fatal crashes and crashes resulting in injury.
"Every project we do has an element of safety built in, but these projects were specifically selected and funded because we know they will save lives and reduce the chance of a serious crash," said ODOT Director Pamela Boratyn.
Here's how DeWine and Boratyn plan to spend the money throughout Northeast Ohio:
Ashtabula County
- $3,564,000: Constructing a cable barrier on State Route 11 due to narrow median. Expected to be completed by 2026.
Medina County
- $3,750,000: Single-lane roundabout at State Route 94 and Fixler Road. Expected to be completed by 2029.
Richland County
- $3,276,000: Single-lane roundabout at the intersection of 4th and Rock in the city of Ontario. Expected to be completed by 2029.
- $3,800,000: Single-lane roundabout at State Route 96 and State Route 545. Expected to be completed by 2029.
- $3,600,000: Single-lane roundabout at State Route 314 and Millsboro Road. Expected to be completed by 2030.
Stark County
- $4,192,000: Single-lane roundabout at State Route 93 and Orville Street. Expected to be completed by 2029.
Summit County
- $2,180,000: Constructing a cable barrier on State Route 21 due to narrow median. Expected to be completed by 2026.
Tuscarawas County
- $4,520,000: Constructing cable barrier on Interstate 77 due to narrow median. Expected to be completed by 2028.