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The roadway safety investment announced by Governor Mike DeWine and the Ohio Department of Transportation focuses on high-crash areas in dozens of counties.
The roadway safety investment totals $97.2 million and will fund infrastructure upgrades designed to reduce serious crashes and fatalities.
Spectrum News 1 reported that Ohio officials said the funding comes from the Ohio Department of Transportation’s (ODOT’s) Highway Safety Improvement Program, which they described as one of the nation’s largest per capita safety efforts. The investment will support 39 projects in 27 counties through fiscal years 2026–2031.
Roadway safety investment targets high-crash locations
The $97.2 million roadway safety investment will focus on roadways with a history of fatal or serious injury crashes, particularly where conventional improvements were not effective. To address these challenges, the strategy prioritizes data-driven countermeasures to reduce crashes before they occur.
Moreover, DeWine said the safety upgrades will help Ohioans travel more securely and efficiently across the state. In addition, officials emphasized that this announcement builds on several years of progress in reducing traffic deaths and injuries.
Specifically, the improvements add roundabouts, new turn lanes, enhanced signage, intersection upgrades, and high-visibility crosswalks, sidewalks, and bike lanes, all designed to increase safety for drivers, cyclists, and pedestrians.
Specific county projects funded under statewide plan
Across the state, several local projects will benefit directly from the roadway safety investment:
- Allen, Hancock and Van Wert Counties:
- Median cable barriers will be installed on U.S. 30 and segments of State Route 15.
- A northbound turn lane will be added on U.S. 127 at Wren-Landeck Road in Van Wert County.
Construction is expected to begin as early as 2028.
- Mahoning Valley area:
- East Liverpool will see nearly $1.9 million toward road reconstruction, new pavement markings, sidewalks, pedestrian crossings and lighting improvements. Additionally, a roundabout will also be added at Park Way and Boyce Street.
- Palmyra Road in Mahoning County will receive a roundabout project projected to cost $3.2 million and complete by 2029.
- Trumbull County will receive improvements, including an interchange reconfiguration and a restricted crossing U-Turn to reduce cross-traffic conflicts.
- Columbiana County (East Liverpool SR 39):
A multi-mile reconstruction project on State Route 39 will improve signage, pavement markings, pedestrian access, lighting, and incorporate a roundabout at Parkway Avenue and Boyce Street.
These localized examples show how the roadway safety investment will support tailored solutions for different communities.
Long-term impact and expected outcomes
ODOT Director Pamela Boratyn said in a report by Spectrum News that the funded projects represent a proactive approach to reducing deadly and serious injury crashes on Ohio’s roadways.
Officials noted that this funding builds on a pattern of four consecutive years of declining traffic fatalities and serious injuries statewide, credited in part to previous investments and safety enhancements.
The rollout is staged through fiscal years 2026 to 2031. It allows engineers and planners to coordinate construction timelines and minimize community disruption. This ensures each project’s goals align with safety outcomes.
Moreover, many of the chosen improvements — such as roundabouts and restricted crossing U-turns — have proven effective in other states and regions for cutting crash rates where traditional signals or stop signs failed to do so.
For example, data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration highlights the positive impact of roundabouts on roadway safety.
In addition, the investment aligns with Ohio’s commitment to multimodal safety. Specifically, it accommodates not only drivers but also pedestrians, cyclists, and transit riders in communities across the state. (See related insights on roundabout safety data at the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.)
Ohio drivers and community planners alike will be watching the impacts of this record roadway safety investment in the coming years, as construction begins and outcomes become measurable.
Summary
Ohio is investing $97.2 million in roadway safety upgrades across 27 counties. This is part of a statewide effort to reduce serious crashes and fatalities. Governor Mike DeWine and the Ohio Department of Transportation announced that the funding comes from ODOT’s Highway Safety Improvement Program.
It will support 39 projects scheduled between fiscal years 2026 and 2031.
Furthermore, as reported by Spectrum News 1, the program targets high-crash locations where traditional fixes have not worked, using data-driven strategies to improve safety.
Planned improvements include roundabouts, new turn lanes, enhanced signage, and intersection redesigns. High-visibility crosswalks, sidewalks, and bike lanes will protect drivers, pedestrians, and cyclists. Specific projects range from median cable barriers and turn lanes in Allen, Hancock, and Van Wert counties to major reconstruction and roundabout projects in the Mahoning Valley and East Liverpool areas.
State officials say the investment builds on four consecutive years of declining traffic fatalities. It reflects Ohio’s broader commitment to long-term, multimodal road safety.
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