AKRON, Ohio — State officials announced the details of the 2025 road construction season Thursday, confirming $3.2 billion in improvements to roads and bridges as well as other safety projects.
Be prepared to see some construction, because ODOT said it is taking on 955 new construction projects across Ohio.
“We know that drivers see ODOT’s orange barrels and cones as an inconvenience, but they are also a signal of progress and improvement,” Gov. Mike DeWine said in the announcement. “This year’s transportation projects will continue to ensure that our infrastructure keeps pace, improving the quality of life for those who live, work, and visit Ohio.”
Thirty-eight of the projects will see investments of more than $10 million. There are plans to repair and upgrade 844 bridges, and they also have planned 171 “large-scale safety projects” meant to see a reduction in crashes.
"This year we will see a very significant investment in our transportation infrastructure—one that will improve safety, reduce traffic fatalities, and keep people and goods moving efficiently,” ODOT Director Pamela Boratyn said. “Every project we break ground on is a step toward a stronger, safer, and more connected future for Ohio.”
Funding for the ODOT Highway Safety Improvement Plan was recently increased to $191 million annually, thanks to the 2026-2027 transportation budget. DeWine signed that bill on Monday.
That budget will go into effect July 1.
In order to help keep the construction workers safe during these projects, the governor also announced that the Ohio State Highway Patrol “will once again increase traffic enforcement in work zones across the state.”
This directive last year saw a 20% decline in work zone fatalities compared to the year prior, according to the announcement. They said there have been 22,000 work zone crashes since 2020, resulting in 100 deaths, nine of which were workers.
Spectrum News 1 Ohio senior producer Lydia Taylor contributed to this report.
