About the project

The public commenting period for this project has been extended. Comments will be accepted through October 12.

The above video is the presentation for the feasibility study's public meeting.

This project is meant to study the alternatives for widening of I-475 between U.S. 23 and Douglas Road in Toledo.

Join us online Wednesday, August 12, 4-5 p.m. for the I-475 East/West Widening Feasibility Study public meeting!  On that day and at that time, please click the following link to join the meeting: https://publicinput.com/O0321

The meeting presentation (above) and handout explains the overall study, presents the proposed alternatives for the widening of I-475, discusses the recommended alternative, and options that were investigated for the Talmadge Road interchange.

The Talmadge Road interchange IS NOT BEING PURSUED.
ODOT does NOT have plans for acquiring the homes and businesses shown in the handout. (Blue, capital letters in red boxes states: "NOTE: FEASIBLE ALTERNATIVE - NOT RECOMMENDED") It was only included in the handout to show we looked into multiple options with the study.

The public commenting period for this project has been extended. Comments will be accepted through October 12.

Project documents are also available under "Related Resources" along the right column of the page.

Project Resources:

Printable Comment Form

Flyer

Project Meeting Handout

Invite Letter

NEPA Assignment Information

Public Meeting Ground Rules

Right of Way Brochure - When ODOT Needs Your Property

The public commenting period for this project has been extended. Comments will be accepted through October 12.

Submit comments and questions by Monday, October 12 with any of these methods: 

• Online 
  • Click here for the electronic comment form on ODOT's website
• Mail
  • Print the comment form, fill it out, and send to:
    Ben Cordes
    317 East Poe Road
    Bowling Green, OH 43402
• Email
  • Ben.Cordes@dot.ohio.gov
• Call ​
  • ​419-373-4467 - Ben Cordes
• Text
  • Q703 to 73224
• Voicemail
  • Call 855-925-2008 code 9300

View online public meeting information here: https://www.transportation.ohio.gov/wps/portal/gov/odot/about-us/events/district-2/Public-Meeting-I-475-Widening-Feasibility-Study

Please click the following link on Aug. 12 at 4 p.m. to join the online meeting: https://publicinput.com/O0321

There's a lot of confusion/misinformation surrounding the I-475 section at Talmadge Road. To clear this up, please read information in the handout or watch this video:

FAQ

Q: Who received letters in the mail?

A: Invite letters and flyer invite letters were mailed to 2,200 addresses, including the mailing address and owner address for the locations shown on this map.  Letters were sent to a corridor along 475 however, it is impossible to include everyone that uses the highway, so a line had to be drawn.  We apologize if one person received a letter and another did not and appreciate you telling them about the meeting.  There will also be a press release 15 days and 2 days prior to the meeting.

Q: How was the traffic data collected?

A: Traffic was collected by ODOT consultants using video and hose counters in March and April 2019. Certified traffic can be found here.

Q: What did the traffic data show?

A: Three years of crash data were reviewed for the study corridor. The crash review period ranged from January 1, 2016 to December 31, 2018 in which 328 crashes were found over the three-year period. Many of these crashes occurred at the horizontal curve locations, merge and diverge locations, and bridges.  Crash Diagrams can be found here.

The most frequent occurring crash was Rear End type (130 crashes, 39.6%). Sideswipe-Passing crashes were the second most frequent crash for the corridor followed by Fixed Object. See Table 1 for a summary of crash data by type.

Table 1 – I-475 Crash Types

Crash severity and road condition were also reviewed. Tables 2 and 3 depict these crash statistics.

Table 2 – I-475 Crash Severity

Table 3 – I-475 Roadway Crash Conditions

The crash data and the crash reports indicate that many of the incidents have occurred during peak traffic periods. The highest occurring hour for crashes is 7:00 AM with 48 crashes occurring. The PM Peak saw a gradual increase in crashes between 3:00 PM – 6:00 PM, with a total of 34 crashes in the 5:00 pm hour. See Figure 1 for Crashes by Hour.

Q: Is there more detailed information on the property impacts shown on Jamesway Drive?

A: The alternatives shown in the handout are options that are being investigated and are the worst case, so comments on which is preferred are always accepted.  Detailed design has not been completed but could include retaining walls to limit the amount of right of way needed, cul-de-sacs, with longer drives, service roads, or the worst case is property takes, which we try to avoid as much as possible.  Without the detailed design the exact impacts to properties is not known.  Once an alternative has been chosen and more detailed design has been completed another public meeting will be held.  There would also be detailed discussions with each property owner that would be affected, once it is known which is affected.   

Q: Can the money for this project be used on City streets instead?

A: Construction for this project does not have funding. This project is a study only.  Information on traffic and congestion, options to fix traffic and congestion, construction costs, public input on options, environmental concerns, etc. is gathered during the study so that the information can be used to determine if a project could be needed in the future. Also, ODOT funding is dedicated for State, Interstate, and US Routes only; however, there is a program in which Local governments can get State and Federal funding, which the City of Toledo participates in every year.