It's time to say goodbye (sort of).
After around 15 months of detailing Franklin County roadwork closures and covering topics like weird OVI vehicles, headlight brightness, and all the wacky stuff that's spilled on Ohio's highways, Getting There is coming to an end. In its place, I will be doing more stories on central Ohio's construction projects, so our readers can know exactly when and where their commutes will be impacted by orange barrels and contractors, for how long and at what cost.
I've learned a lot about transportation by writing this column. For example, I now know that it is possible to receive an OVI charge if you drive a horse-drawn buggy while intoxicated. This is, perhaps, not information I can use in my life, but I will cherish
it anyway.
If you've been following these columns, I hope you've learned a little something. Or at least used my reporting to cut down on your commute times.
Speaking of commute times, here's the final Getting There list of upcoming ODOT projects:.
New Franklin County ODOT projects for the week of Sept. 11
- The Interstate 270 westbound ramp to Interstate 71 southbound on Columbus' North Side will close overnight from 11 p.m. to 5 a.m. Sept. 16 through Sept. 18.
- ODOT Detour (a final reminder that these are the official detours using state roads; you or GPS may know another, shorter detour): I-71 northbound to Polaris Parkway to I-71 southbound
- The I-270 eastbound ramp to I-71 northbound on the North Side will close overnight from 11 p.m. to 5 a.m. Sept. 16 through Sept. 17.
- ODOT Detour: I-270 eastbound to Cleveland Avenue to I-270 westbound to I-71 northbound
- I-71 northbound at I-270 on the North Side will close overnight from 11 p.m. to 5 a.m. Sept. 16 through Sept. 17.
- ODOT Detour: I-71 northbound to I-270 eastbound to Cleveland Avenue to I-270 westbound
- I-71 southbound at I-270 on the North Side will be reduced to one lane overnight from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. Sept. 17 through Sept. 18.
- The I-71 southbound ramp to Main Street in Columbus will close from 7 p.m. Sept. 11 through 5 a.m. Sept. 14.
- ODOT Detour: I-71 southbound to Spring Street to Broad Street to Parsons Avenue to Main Street
- I-71 southbound between East Town Street and Main Street in Columbus will be reduced to two lanes from 7 p.m. Sept. 11 through 5 a.m. Sept. 14.
- Main Street eastbound between Washington Avenue and Lester Drive will be reduced to one lane from 7 p.m. Sept. 11 through 5 a.m. Sept. 14.
- The I-71 southbound ramp to Main Street will close overnight from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. Sept. 14 through Sept. 19.
- ODOT Detour: I-71 southbound to Spring Street to Broad Street to Parsons Avenue to Main Street
- The Interstate 70 eastbound ramp to I-270 southbound on Columbus' East Side will close from 7 p.m. Sept. 11 through 5 a.m. Sept. 14.
- ODOT Detour: I-70 eastbound to Brice Road to I-70 westbound to I-270 southbound
- I-270 southbound between the I-70/I-270 interchange and the Norfolk Southern Railway Bridge will be reduced to two lanes from 7 p.m. Sept. 11 through 5 a.m. Sept. 14.
- Interstate 670 westbound between I-70 and Grandview Avenue will be reduced to one lane overnight from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. Sept. 11 through Sept. 12.
- I-670 eastbound between Grandview Avenue and I-70 will be reduced to one lane overnight from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. Sept. 11 through Sept. 12.
- I-670 eastbound between 5th Avenue and I-270 will be reduced to two lanes from 7 p.m. Sept. 18 through 5 a.m. Sept. 21.
- U.S. 33 westbound between I-70 and State Route 104 will have various overnight lane restrictions from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. starting Sept. 14 for 26 days.
New downtown Columbus ODOT projects for the week of Sept. 11
- State Route 315 northbound at I-70 will close overnight from 10 p.m. Sept. 11. to 5 a.m. Sept. 12.
- ODOT Detour: I-71 northbound to I-70 eastbound to I-71 northbound to I-670 westbound to State Route 315
- The I-70 eastbound ramp to I-71 southbound will close overnight from 9 p.m. Sept. 11. to 7 a.m. Sept. 12.
- ODOT Detour: I-70 eastbound to I-670 eastbound to I-71 southbound
- I-70 westbound between State Route 315 and I-71 will close from 10 p.m. Sept. 11 through 5 a.m. Sept. 14. The I-71 southbound flyover ramp will remain open.
- ODOT Detour: I-70 westbound to I-71 northbound to I-670 westbound to I-70 westbound
- The I-70 westbound ramp to Rich Street/Town Street will close from 8 p.m. Sept. 11 through 5 a.m. Sept. 14.
- ODOT Detour: I-70 westbound to State Route 315 northbound to Rich Street/Town Street
- The Mound Street ramp to I-70 westbound will close from 8 p.m. Sept. 11 through 5 a.m. Sept. 14.
- ODOT Detour: Second Street to U.S. 62 to State Route 315 southbound to I-70 westbound

Reporter Nathan Hart can be reached at NHart@dispatch.com, @NathanRHart on X and nathanhart.dispatch.com on Bluesky.
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Say farewell to Getting There, hello to more construction-focused stories










