OMEGA

Ohio Mid-Eastern Governments Association

MENUMENU
  • Home
  • About OMEGA
        • OMEGA Bylaws
        • Our Officers and Staff
        • Related Links
        • FAQ’s
  • Our Programs
        • ARC Assistance
        • EDA Assistance
        • Business Development
          • Regional 166 Loan Program
          • Revolving Loan Fund
        • Community Development
          • OPWC Clean Ohio Green Space
          • Abandoned Mine Lands Pilot Program
          • Funding Opportunities
        • Transportation
          • 2020 Transportation & Development Plan
          • Regional Transportation Improvement Plan
          • Regional Safety Plan
          • Tri-County Active Transportation Plan
          • Transportation Advisory Committee
        • Transit
          • Regional Coordinated Plan
          • Regional Coordination Council
          • Steering Committee
          • County Coordinated Plans
          • Transit Studies
        • Broadband
        • One Ohio Region 11
  • Upcoming Events
  • Reports
  • Maps
  • Contact Us
    • OMEGA Project Profile
    • Careers & RFPs
    • Join Our Email List

Columbus to Pittsburgh Corridor

Columbus to Pittsburgh Corridor Feasibility Study

This project will determine the economic benefits of finishing the four-lane corridor between Columbus, Ohio and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. This corridor is 70% complete, requiring only 47 miles to be upgraded from two to four lanes. This corridor traverses through the heart of the Marcellus & Utica Shale formations in eastern Appalachian region of Ohio and is bookended by two growing metropolitan regions. This area, part of a larger tri-state region has seen over $80 billion in investments since 2013 and has propelled the United States towards energy independence and a second petrochemical hub.  Completion of this corridor will also facilitate the expansion of the steel, food processing, and other manufacturing facilities as well as the logistics and tourism sectors of the region’s economy.  This project will strengthen the region’s economic competitiveness and facilitate the transportation of raw materials and finished goods for such industry leaders as Wal-Mart (distribution center in Jefferson County), JSW Steel, Kraft-Heinz, and Fanatics.

Completion of this project will allow further environmental and right of way acquisition to take place, leading to construction by the end of the decade. The corridor faces numerous safety issues, due to the number and severity of crashes in this primarily rural area. The Columbus to Pittsburgh Corridor includes US 250 which  is on the Statewide Transportation System (STS) network and is critical to trucking and freight movement within Ohio.

This project is also critical to protect a regional drinking water source.  Tappan Lake, which is part of the Muskingum Watershed Conservancy District (MWCD) is bisected by US 250 and is a primary source of drinking water for the Village of Cadiz.  Tappan Lake also serves as a drinking water source for the newly constructed $5 million Tappan Lake Marina, which is a regional recreational and dining destination.  With the ever-increasing traffic count especially trucks, in this stretch of highway, MWCD is concerned that an accident and/or spill due to congestion will cause a serious impact to the lake, affecting the drinking water supply and the recreating public. Planning for ways to lower this possibility is a very important component of this project.

The elimination of a 70-mile detour for oversized loads (due to a substandard railroad bridge along the corridor) will reduce emissions and spur additional economic growth by increasing the number of available sites for prospective employers seeking to move into the region that require access to a four-lane highway. This corridor will also function as a relief valve for Interstate 70 to the south, increasing the resiliency of the region to respond to unforeseen events that often lead to complete closure of sections of I-70 in Belmont, Guernsey, and Muskingum Counties leading to long detours and delays in the deliveries of raw materials, supplies, and finished goods. Sections of I-70 also flood near Buckeye Lake forcing closure of the interstate and these flood events seem to be incurring more frequently. This corridor will provide a viable alternative for the transportation of goods and materials as well as the traveling public.  Current detour routes are inadequate for long-term redirection of heavy traffic.  By 2040, sections of I-70 are projected to be at or near capacity with the level of service degraded to a rating of E or F.  Completion of the Columbus to Pittsburgh Corridor will allow for efficient delivery of goods, reduce travel costs, improve safety, and allow the region to be more economically competitive by increasing access to a four-lane highway.  Completion of the corridor is an essential component for the Appalachian Energy and Petrochemical Renaissance as documented in the study completed by the US Department of Energy in June 2020, “The Appalachian Energy and Petrochemical Renaissance, An Examination of Economic Progress and Opportunities.”

Questions/Comments?

Kevin Buettner, AICP, LEED AP ND

Transportation Director

740-439-4471 ext. 207

kevinb@omegadistrict.org

Additional Information

US Dept. of Energy, The Appalachian Energy and Petrochemical Renaissance, June 2020

Fact Sheet, Columbus to Pittsburgh Corridor Association

Latest Information

For the latest information about OMEGA you can opt in to our email list. We will not share your email with anyone.



 
326 Highland Avenue, Suite B
Cambridge, Ohio 43725
(740) 439-4471

Email: jeannettew@omegadistrict.org

Search Our Page

Copyright ©2023 Ohio Mid-Eastern Governments Association
Website Design by
AVC Technical Services
ArabicChinese (Simplified)DutchEnglishFrenchGermanItalianPortugueseRussianSpanish

We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept All”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. However, you may visit "Cookie Settings" to provide a controlled consent.
Cookie SettingsAccept All
Manage consent

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously.
CookieDurationDescription
cookielawinfo-checkbox-analytics11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-functional11 monthsThe cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-necessary11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-others11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other.
cookielawinfo-checkbox-performance11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance".
viewed_cookie_policy11 monthsThe cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. It does not store any personal data.
Functional
Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features.
Performance
Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.
Analytics
Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.
Advertisement
Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads.
Others
Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet.
SAVE & ACCEPT