All Roads Lead to Canton

The Pro Football Hall of Fame is located in northeast Ohio just minutes from several major interstate highways, within easy driving distance of many major metropolitan areas in several states.  This past spring, the Ohio Department of Transportation kicked off its 2003 road improvement season with $1.17 billion worth of road enhancement projects that will make the convenient drive even easier. 

“Sure, you’ll see orange barrels,” offers Dave Motts, Hall of Fame Vice President of Marketing and Operations.  “But, what you won’t see are any major traffic delays caused by construction.”  Ohio may be the only state in the nation that requires contractors to maintain at least two lanes in each direction during daytime hours on its heavily traveled interstates.  Interstate 77 that passes in front of the football shrine is a perfect example.  Throughout its widening project two lanes in each direction are maintained at all times.

Keeping two lanes open isn’t the only step ODOT has taken to reduce the typical congestion and delays associated with road projects.  Fifty-eight of the 62 interstate projects planned for 2003 restrict work to off-peak travel times.  Also, to help speed the pace of construction contractors are rewarded for early completion or penalized for delays.