Ohio Department of Transportation

01/30/2025 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 01/30/2025 23:09

Roundabouts Project to Begin at U.S. 33 and State Route 682 Interchange

A project aimed at improving safety at an Athens County interchange is set to begin on February 3.

About the project

The U.S. 33/State Route 682 ramp intersections will be converted to roundabouts.

The interchange was constructed in 1958 and is the first interchange ever constructed in the nine counties of ODOT District 10. Currently, the eastbound exit ramp is controlled by a stop sign and the westbound ramp intersection is controlled by a traffic signal. The signal was added at this intersection in 1999, and no significant upgrades have been completed at the interchange since then.

Since Sunset Lane and Whispering Pines Drive are close to the interchange, each road's intersection with SR 682 will be included in the roundabouts to maintain both east and west access to SR 682 from these roadways.

Why Roundabouts?

From 2017-2022, there were 9 crashes at the interchange ramp intersections.

Studies by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) show that roundabouts achieve a 44% reduction in crashes and reduce serious injury and deadly crashes by nearly 90% at two-way stop intersections. When roundabouts replace a traffic signal, FHWA found a 48% reduction in crashes and nearly 80% drop in serious injury and deadly crashes.

Read more about the benefits of roundabouts and how to navigate them here.

The improvements will modernize the interchange to handle traffic now and in the future with less delays compared to the existing traffic signal and stop sign controlled intersections.

The improvements will also address limited sight distance of SR 682 traffic from the eastbound exit ramp.

Traffic Impacts

Lane closures with temporary traffic signals or flaggers will be in place. Ramp closures will also be in place in future phases of the project.

Traffic impacts will be updated on OHGO throughout the construction process.

Construction is estimated to end in October.

Read more about the project here.