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EspañolOHIO TURNPIKE
The westbound Ohio Turnpike
'Ohio Turnpike' (officially 'James W. Shocknessy Ohio Turnpike') is a -long, limited-access toll highway in the U.S. state of Ohio, serving as a primary corridor to Chicago and Pittsburgh. The road is designated in the nothern sections of the state, on a east-west direction, from the Indiana Toll Road at the Indiana-Ohio border near Montpelier, to the Pennsylvania Turnpike at the Ohio-Pennsylvania border near Petersburg.
Built from 1949 to 1955, construction for the roadway was completed a year prior to the Interstate Highway System. The modern Ohio Turnpike is signed as three interstate numbers: I-76, I-80, and I-90.
The road is owned and maintained by the Ohio Turnpike Commission, headquartered in Berea.
| Contents |
| History |
| Service Plazas |
| Law enforcement |
| Truck speed limit |
| Proposed leasing |
| Toll structure |
| Exit list |
| See also |
| References |
| External links |
History
The Ohio General Assembly authorized the formation of the Ohio Turnpike Commission in 1949. The turnpike is named after the first chairman of the commission — James W. Shocknessy. Construction for the road cost $326 million and was recorded the biggest project in state history, with 10,000 employers, more than 2,300 bulldozers, graders, loaders and other machines over a 38-month period. Ohio Turnpike history
On December 1, 1954, the first 22-mile stretch, the portion lying east of State Route 18 opened near the present-day exit 218 for I-76 and I-80. Several motorists attended a dedication ceremony, with over 1,000 people joining a caravan, following a snow plow and a patrol cruiser, to become the first to drive the turnpike. The remaining section from exit 218 west to Indiana opened October 1, 1955.[1]
When it opened in 1955, the turnpike offered 17 access points. Since then, more access points have been provided, bringing the total number to 31.
In 1998, the Ohio Turnpike Commission began phasing in the marking of exits by mile-marker. The old exit numbering system was phased out in September, 2002.
Service Plazas
Typical modernized service plaza
Like many other toll roads, the Ohio Turnpike has had service plazas since its inception. Although typical freeway rest areas offer restrooms and picnic areas; service plazas differ from typical freeway rest areas, in that they also offer other amenities, such as 24-hour food and fuel service.
Beginning in 1998, The Ohio Turnpike Commission began modernizing its service plazas by demolishing the original plazas, then reconstructing them from the ground-up. Besides modern restrooms, the new service plazas offer 2 or 3 different well known fast food choices, which vary between the plazas. They also include ATMs, gift shops, travel information counters, Wi-Fi internet access, and facilities for truck drivers including shower facilities, lounge, and laundry areas. A fueling station is provided at each plaza. Facilities for overnight RV campers are provided at the service plazas located at mile-markers 76, 139, and 197.[1]
Service plazas are located in pairs (one for each side of the turnpike) near the following mile-markers: 49, 76, 100, 139, 170, 197, and 237. Presently, the service plazas located at mile-markers 49, and 237 haven't been modernized, and thus utilize the original buildings that opened with the turnpike in the 1950's.
The service plazas located in Lucas County west of Toledo (Mile-marker 49) are the least utilized along the turnpike. At some time in the future, the Ohio Turnpike Commission envisions the eventual demolition of the service plazas that are presently located at mile-marker 49, and building new service plazas between mile-markers 20 and 49; the new facility will most likely be located in Fulton county.[2][3]
Due to the lack of a municipal water/sewer system, the service plazas located near mile-marker 20 in Williams county were permanently demolished in early 2006. [4] [5]
Standard Ohio Turnpike ticket, in this case for a Class 1 vehicle (two-axle car without trailer) entering at Exit 218
Law enforcement
Since the turnpike opened, the Ohio Turnpike Commission has contracted with the Ohio State Highway Patrol (District 10), to provide law enforcement, and assistance to disabled or stranded motorists. They are the only law enforcement agency with jurisdiction on the turnpike. The patrol also monitors Citizen's Band channel 9 for distress calls.
Truck speed limit
In September 2004, the speed limit for heavy trucks was raised to 65 mph (105 km/h), creating a uniform speed limit for all traffic. For years, trucks had avoided the turnpike due to large toll increases in the 1990s, and because they could travel for free at the same speed on parallel highways such as State Route 2 and US 20. Truck traffic clogged the downtown shopping areas of such US 20 towns as Bellevue, Clyde, and Fremont, essentially driving away customers who didn't want to deal with the truck traffic; shopkeepers begged the state for relief for years.
Eventually, with some prodding by Governor Bob Taft, the Ohio Turnpike Commission lowered truck tolls and implemented the uniform 65-mph speed limit on September 8, 2004.[6] Truck traffic levels have been estimated to be 20% higher on the turnpike since these changes were made. The turnpike's 65-mph truck speed limit is unique in Ohio, as a 55-mph statutory speed limit applies to trucks on every other highway in the state.
Proposed leasing
Turnpike Westbound
Ken Blackwell, the defeated candidate in the 2006 Ohio governor's race, had a plan for privatizing the turnpike, similar to plans enacted in Illinois and Indiana.[7][8][9][10]
Any plans for privatizing the Ohio Turnpike will need to be re-started, if at all, under a later administration.
Toll structure
Tolls are based upon the distance traveled, along with the type, and weight of vehicle driven. As of January 1, 2007, the toll for a typical non-commercial passenger vehicle to travel the entire distance of the turnpike is $10.25.[11]
The Ohio Turnpike Commission has been hesitant to deploy an electronic tolling system; citing an apparent lack of commuter travel, as well as extensive implementation expenses. In December of 2006, the Commission indicated their intention to move forward with the implementation of an E-ZPass compatible system as a "customer convenience". [12] The system is expected to be fully functional by 2009.
Exit list
| County | Location[2][3] | Mile | # | Destinations[4][5][6] | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
   | |||||
| Williams | Northwest Twp. | 2.7 | 2 | Westgate Toll Barrier | Prior to completion of the Indiana Toll Road, turnpike traffic emptied onto US 20 via a short access road just west of the toll barrier. This access road is still visible. |
| Jefferson Twp. | 13.5 | 13 |  | Formerly Exit 2 | |
| Fulton | Franklin Twp. | 25.6 | 25 |  | |
| Dover Twp. | 34.9 | 34 |  | Formerly Exit 3 | |
| Pike Twp. | 39.8 | 39 |  | ||
| Lucas | Monclova Twp. | 52.6 | 52 |  | |
| Maumee | 59.5 | 59 |  | Formerly Exit 4; to I-475 and US 23. | |
| Wood | Perrysburg | 64.9 | 64 |  | |
| Lake Twp. | 71.7 | 71 |   | Formerly Exit 5 | |
| Ottawa | Harris Twp. | 81.8 | 81 |  | |
| Sandusky | Sandusky Twp. | 91.6 | 91 |  | Formerly Exit 6 |
| Erie | Groton Twp. | 110.2 | 110 |  | |
| Milan Twp. | 118.5 | 118 |  | Formerly Exit 7 | |
| Lorain | Brownhelm Twp. | 135.9 | 135 | Baumhart Road - Vermilion | |
| Amherst | 140.6 | 140 |  | ||
| Eastern terminus of | |||||
| Elyria Twp. | 142.8 | 142 | | Formerly Exit 8A; eastbound exit, westbound entrance. | |
| Elyria | 145.8 | 145 |  | Formerly Exit 8 | |
| North Ridgeville | 151.8 | 151 |  | Eastbound exit, westbound entrance. | |
| 152.2 | 152 |  | Formerly Exit 9 | ||
| Cuyahoga | Strongsville | 161.8 | 161 |   | Formerly Exit 10 |
| Summit | Richfield | 173.2 | 173 |   | Formerly Exit 11 |
| Boston Heights | 180.3 | 180 |  | Formerly Exit 12 | |
| Portage | Streetsboro | 187.2 | 187 |  | Formerly Exit 13 |
| Shalersville Twp. | 193.9 | 193 |  | ||
| Trumbull | Braceville Twp. | 209.2 | 209 |  | Formerly Exit 14 |
| Lordstown | 215.0 | 215 | Ellsworth-Bailey Road - Lordstown West | Eastbound exit, westbound entrance. | |
| 216.4 | 216 | Hallock-Young Road - Lordstown East | Westbound exit, eastbound entrance. | ||
| Mahoning | North Jackson | 218.7 | 218 |  | Formerly Exit 15; I-76 exits westbound and enters eastbound. I-80 exits eastbound and enters westbound. |
| Beaver Twp. | 232.9 | 232 |  | Formerly Exit 16 | |
| 234.1 | 234 |  | Formerly Exit 16A; westbound exit, eastbound entrance. | ||
| Springfield Twp. | 239.0 | 239 | Eastgate Toll Barrier | ||
 | |||||
See also
★ Interstate 80 in Ohio
References
1. Ohio State Highway Patrol - History
2.
3. DeLorme Street Atlas USA 2007. Digital map of Ohio showing the townships. Accessed on July 10 2007.
4. Interchanges - table 1
5. Interchanges - table 2
6. Interchanges - table 3
External links
★ Official website
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