Listen Live
WERE AM Mobile App 2020

LISTEN LIVE. LIKE US ON FACEBOOK. FOLLOW US ON TWITTER

Joy 107.1 Featured Video
CLOSE

 

According to Fox 28, residents in a south Columbus neighborhood say traffic congestion has increased on a major street because of construction on Interstate 71.

A project on the interstate has caused several ramp closures on the roadway south of Columbus near Grove City.

People who live along Hardy Parkway Street explain during rush hour is usually bad, but the project has only added more vehicles onto the busy street.

“Around about 5 or 5:30, this traffic is backed up all the way down like two or three, four blocks down,” explained Becky Cook.

Cook adds in addition to traffic congestion, distracted driving is also a problem as vehicles travel the neighborhood, which has a lot of children.

Officials from ODOT say there are detours for the project. The agency explained they only use state and US routes as road detours, never local streets.

The project, called the South Side Mega Fix, will add a lane in both directions of I-71 between SR 315 and Stringtown Road and build new ramps at the I-71 and 270 interchange,according to ODOT.

Drivers and residents are encouraged to pack their patience. The project is expected to be complete by 2020.