Work has begun on the reconstruction of Interstate 70 through downtown Zanesville.

Officials held a press conference Tuesday morning to detail the timeline of the project and its benefit to the local community.

Originally built in the 1960s, the now 50-year-old interstate has begun to show signs of wear and tear and needs both cosmetic and structural upgrades, officials say.

Ohio Department of Transportation Director Dr. Jack Marchbanks said Tuesday that the reconstruction will not only benefit local residents and its drivers but also the high volume of trucks and commerce that use ‘this key corridor.’

The $88 million dollar project will take multiple years to complete and will include the replacement or structural rehabilitation of 16 bridges.

I-70 from between the Licking Road overpass, west of Zanesville, to the city limits on the east, near the Fieldhouse, will be entirely resurfaced.

While preliminary work, which includes setting up temporary lighting and removing signage, has already begun, major work will begin this August.

According to a timeline provided by ODOT, the estimated completion date is October 2027.

Multiple officials who spoke at Tuesday’s event, including Zanesville Mayor Don Mason and Ohio State Senator Tim Schaffer, welcomed the investment in the community.

“We just ask the public to be cautious and patient as we rebuild this aging infrastructure,” said Mason.

ODOT officials say that during daytime hours two lanes in each direction will be maintained through the project’s completion.

During nighttime hours, however, lanes may be reduced and traffic more severely impacted.

Ramp and bridge closures will be staggered so that access to and from I-70 and downtown Zanesville will always be maintained, at least in some capacity, a handout given out during announcement stated.

Officials for the first time also revealed that the planned closure of the fifth and seventh street underpasses will not move forward.

After many public comments and pushback from local elected officials, ODOT engineers made the decision to cancel those intended plans.

ODOT personnel further said Tuesday that sidewalks will remain under the bridges for connection between the north and south sides of downtown.

Additional bike paths or more walkable infrastructure that would exist under the interstate, through downtown, did not however make it into the final design blueprints, as many residents had hoped.

It also appears at this time that the pedestrian walkway on the I-70 bridge that crosses over the Muskingum River will remain.

The following is a tentative schedule for upcoming construction.

• August 2021
  • The I-70 west exit ramp to Underwood St. and the entrance ramp from Underwood St. to I-70 east will close for 3 months.
• October 2021
  • Both directions of I-70 traffic will be shifted to the outside so the contractor can work in the median and lanes adjacent to the median.
• July 2021 – October 2021
  • Initial work is overnight work to build temporary pavement on the shoulder, which will be used to maintain traffic during construction.
  • In August, the ramp from I-70 west to Underwood St. and the ramp from Underwood St. to I-70 east will close for reconstruction
• October 2021 – Summer 2023
  • Both directions of I-70 traffic will be shifted to the outside so the contractor can work in the median and lanes adjacent to the median.
  • The State St. bridge over I-70 will close in May 2022.
  • The ramp from southbound Maple Ave. to I-70 east will close for bridge work, but not at the same time as State St.
  • Maintenance of traffic adjustments to Underwood St.
  • Temporary closures of 5th, 6th, and 7th St. under I-70 will occur for 45-60 days each, but not at the same time.

• Summer 2023 – Fall 2025
  • One lane of eastbound traffic will be shifted to the westbound side to allow the contractor to work on the outside lanes of I-70 east.
  • The following ramps will be reconstructed: Entrance ramp from State St. to I-70 east and exit ramps from I-70 east to State St., 5th St., 7th St. All closures will not occur at the same time.
  • The ramp from Maple Ave. to I-70 east will remain closed.
  • Temporary closures of 5th, 6th, and 7th St. under I-70 will occur for 45-60 days each, but not at the same time.
• Fall 2025 – Summer 2027
  • One lane of westbound traffic will be shifted to the eastbound side to allow the contractor to work on the outside lanes of I-70 west.
  • The following ramps will be reconstructed: Entrance ramps from State St. and 6th St. to I-70 west and exit ramps from I-70 west to State St. and Maple Ave. All closures will not occur at the same time.
  • Temporary closures of 5th, 6th, and 7th St. under I-70 will occur for 45-60 days each, but not at the same time.
• Summer 2027 – Fall 2027
  • Overnight lane closures to complete the final paving and striping.