COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – The Ohio Department of Transportation is studying the feasibility of constructing a new highway that would span from Toledo to Chesapeake, Ohio, and pass through Columbus.
The agency is conducting a $1.5 million analysis to examine the creation of a corridor called Interstate 73. The highway would primarily run along U.S. 23 – existing portions of the route could be converted into I-73 lanes, depending on ODOT’s findings.
The study is looking into the proposed project’s potential routes and allocation of funding, along with economic and environmental impacts. The department will complete the analysis by the end of 2026.
“It’s important to remember that this is not a commitment to build the interstate – but strictly informational,” an overview of the study states. “It arms the state’s decision makers with data so they can execute accordingly.”
I-73 is part of a proposed interstate highway project that would connect Michigan and South Carolina, using existing roadways and planned construction. The highway would run nearly 1,000 miles from Michigan’s Upper Peninsula to Myrtle Beach while passing through Ohio, West Virginia, Virginia and North Carolina.
The National I-73/I-74/I-75 Corridor Association's proposed highway spanning six states. (Photo courtesy/i73.com)The National I-73/I-74/I-75 Corridor Association's proposed highway in Ohio. (Photo courtesy/i73.com)A group called the National I-73/I-74/I-75 Corridor Association has been pushing for the development of the interstate for decades. The association claims the highway would relieve traffic congestion, create tens of thousands of jobs during its construction and provide coastal regions with a hurricane evacuation route.
Rep. Dave Taylor (R-Ohio) introduced a congressional resolution expressing his support for I-73 in July. Taylor said southern Ohio needs infrastructure to support businesses such as the American Centrifuge Plant in Piketon. The site, which began operations in 2023, enriches uranium for use in nuclear reactors.
“An interstate through southern Ohio would not just help connect rural communities to the modern economy but would enhance our national security because of multiple key facilities and defense-related companies along the route,” Taylor said in a statement.
Parallel to the I-73 study, the department is also working on a $2 billion plan to improve U.S. 23 from Worthington to Waldo by reducing traffic lights, adding interchanges and building overpasses. ODOT has not yet revealed a timeline for construction on these projects.
The I-73 study was funded through House Bill 54, Ohio’s transportation budget for 2026 and 2027 that took effect in June.
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