Gov. Mike DeWine announced Friday that nearly $41 million in funding will go toward 27 new traffic safety projects.
The projects are focused on protecting pedestrians and preventing roadway departures.
“Whether you walk, bike, ride, or drive, we owe it to everyone to make transportation in our state as safe and efficient as possible,” said DeWine in a press release. “These projects are engineered to keep everyone safe."
The press releases states roadway departures account for more than half of all traffic deaths in the state each year, making it the top factor in fatal crashes. Last year, 615 died in roadway departure crashes. There were 150 deaths last year from pedestrian-involved crashes.
The safety projects will include widening roadway shoulders, moving ditches and clearing trees and other obstacles further from the road.
“Our mission is to provide a transportation system that is safe, accessible, well maintained, and positioned for the future. However, safety shouldn’t be limited only to certain road types or locations,” said Ohio Department of Transportation Director Jack Marchbanks in the release.
ODOT's Highway Safety Improvement Program will provide the funds, which will cover all project phases in state fiscal years 2025 through 2030.
Funding for these projects comes from the Ohio Department of Transportation’s Highway Safety Improvement Program. Funds will cover all project phases in state fiscal years 2025 through 2030.
