Dorr Street, I-475 interchange opening for traffic

LUCAS COUNTY, Ohio — After nearly two years of construction, the Dorr Street interchange at Interstate Highway 475 is opening to the public.

"This is a continued step in the progress that we're having in Ohio and northwest Ohio," Lt. Gov. Jon Husted said. "A lot of new business openings, a lot of projects in the pipeline infrastructure is a big deal for job creation, new business investment for big events like the Solheim Cup, access to the university."

Officials say this will also ease congestion at Holland-Sylvania and McCord roads and help those who live nearby.

"This is going to be immeasurable for getting on time to pick up children," said Terry Williamson, who lives near the interchange.

Williamson is a retired nurse turned nanny who says that this interchange will save her from having to travel hundreds of extra miles each week during her commute.

"The time, the gas money, being able to get right on the highway instead of stopping and starting in town, it's going to impact my life greatly."

The $46.7 million project began in November 2019 and added a third lane of travel in both north and southbound lanes for two miles of the I-475/U.S. 23 corridor in addition to the new interchange that has multiple roundabouts on Dorr Street, something leaders say will be safer for drivers as well.

"Roundabouts reduce crashes because people naturally have to slow down, so having it on the Springfield edge as well as the Toledo edge makes certain that as this area grows, you have safety on both sides of the interchange," ODOT Director Jack Marchbanks explained.

The on- and off-ramps are expected to be fully open to drivers by 10 p.m. Monday.