The Ohio Department of Transportation made a trip to Marion on Aug. 5 to present its study on a connector between U.S. 23 and I-71. The department will continue to accept public comments on the study through Sept. 1.
ODOT released a rendering of the “preferred” alternative route for the connector on July 30. The route connects to U.S. 23 north of Waldo in Marion County, winds through the east side of Ashley in Morrow County and connects to I-71 in Delaware County.
The findings of the study will be presented to the state legislature by Oct. 1. After the study is completed, it will be up to the legislature to decide if it will move forward with the project.
The public will have a final opportunity to give feedback and ask questions in person on Aug. 6 at ODOT’s final public meeting at the Delaware County Fairgrounds, with sessions planned for 12-2 p.m. and 4-6 p.m.
ODOT Spokesman Matt Bruning was encouraged by the level of engagement throughout the state over the course of the study.
“It’s nice to see people be a part of the process and say, ‘You know what? I don’t like this or I do like this,'” Bruning said. “We need to do this and be a part of an engaged process and stay engaged.”
Marion residents chime in on proposed connector
Marion resident Shawn Arthur decided to visit the public meeting to learn more about how the connector could affect his property. His home is just south of the proposed U.S. 23 connection and he’s still unsure if his property would be bought out for the project.
Despite the close proximity to his home, he remained neutral in his support of the project.
“We go to Columbus all the time,” Arthur said. “So, we can just come down to Waldo and hop right on that and go … which is nice, but it also affects our house. It’s going to affect the resale value, obviously.”
Another resident, Brian Linstedt, explained the connector would cut his property down the middle. He was initially concerned that the connector would cut off his farmers from accessing both sides, but was relieved to see overpasses will allow travel between the two sides. Despite the addition of the overpass, Linstedt remains opposed to the connector.
“That solves that issue, but a lot of it’s sentimental for me,” Linstedt said. “I grew up here. This was my parents’ house. This was my grandparents’ house. We still have the original deed to this property written on parchment with a quill signed by the president of the United States, deeded to an ancestor for his service in the Civil War.”
Marion resident Jill Rainy, along with Lil and Melissa Smith, pointed to the impact the route would have on Marion and Morrow counties. She said most of the traffic congestion they experience starts in Delaware County, but the preferred connector remains mostly in Morrow County.
“To me, that says that they value the residents of Delaware County and their way of life over our way of life,” Rainy said.
Over the course of the study, Bruning has heard similar feedback from residents concerned with the loss of generational farms, as well as environmental and business effects. But he’s also heard from residents in other parts of the state who support the project, believing it will help connect northwest and central Ohio.
“Even if you were to do it somewhere else, it affects somebody,” Bruning said. “There is no option on this map that has a zero impact. It’s just no option. It has to impact somebody. So if the decision is made to build something, it’s going to impact someone.”
How to submit comments
ODOT will accept public comments on the project until Sept. 1. Comments will be compiled and included in the report given to the state legislature.
Here is how to submit comments on the project:
This article originally appeared on Marion Star: Marion residents voice concerns over new U.S. 23/I-71 connector plan
Reporting by Abby Bammerlin, Marion Star / Marion Star
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Abby Bammerlin, Marion Star | USA TODAY Network
