The Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) and local officials celebrated the completion of a redesigned interchange at Interstate 75 and County Road 99 in Findlay. The ribbon-cutting ceremony marked the opening of the $30.8 million project, which began in early 2024 and introduced a diverging diamond interchange (DDI) to the area.
Chris Hughes, ODOT District 1 deputy director, explained that the DDI design involves two bridges, with one newly constructed on the south side of the existing County Road 99 bridge. “Under traffic signal control, motorists wishing to enter the interstate from County Road 99 will travel onto the opposite, or left bridge, and proceed onto the interstate in a continuous motion,” Hughes said. He emphasized that this design is safer and more efficient than traditional interchanges by eliminating turns against oncoming traffic and reducing delays.
The project also included installing turn lanes on County Road 99 to Technology, Speedway, and Ventura drives; new traffic signals at Technology and Ventura drives; upgraded existing signals; a multi-use path on the south side of County Road 99; and a sidewalk on the north side. This interchange is now one of three DDIs in northwest Ohio, with another having opened in Perrysburg in 2021.
Tim Mayle, a member of the Transportation Review Advisory Council (TRAC), highlighted the project’s importance for regional economic development. “As the former director of economic development and now a TRAC member, I have had the opportunity to be involved with this project from the very beginning,” Mayle said. He noted that investments along this corridor have made it a priority for ODOT TRAC due to its significance as a gateway for manufacturing and logistics.
Dean Monske, president and CEO of Regional Growth Partnership, added that this corridor connects I-75 to an active hub of manufacturing and distribution activities. Miller Bros. Construction, Inc., based in Archbold, served as the general contractor for this project.
For more information about navigating DDIs or details about this specific project, visit the project website.
Information from this article can be found here.
