When the Columbus Tanger Outlets officially opens later this month, you can expect an influx of shopper traffic into the area around the interchange of Interstate 71 and Route 36. To accomodate that traffic increase, work is already underway to expand the highway infrastructure in that area.
“In order to build the outlet mall, the developer Simon-Tanger was required to complete a traffic study which identified both opening year and future year improvements that were necessary to accommodate the additional traffic,” said Breanna Badanes, Public Information Officers with the The Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT). “The opening year improvements are currently being constructed by a contractor, which includes the extension of Wilson Road, the widening of US 36/SR 37 to the east and the widening of the exit ramp from I-71 north to US 36/SR 37.”
While that preliminary work is expected to be completed by the end of the month, it won’t be the end of orange barrels in that area. A second interchange is planned just south of the mall. Three plans were presented at a public meeting in April for review (visuals shown below) with a final design decision expected to be made and presented this fall.
“ODOT has determined the southern interchange will not only solve the traffic issues at the current interchange, but address the regional concerns as well, ” said Badanes. “If funding is identified, 2018 is the earliest the construction of the new ramps to the south — Phase 1 — would occur. That project is expected to take two years.”
Following the proposed completion on Phase 1 in 2020, additional work would continue in the following years, including the construction of a two-lane section of Sunbury Parkway east of Wilson Road, with more work west of I-71 to follow. The cost of Phase one has been valued at $16.5 million.
For more information, visit www.dot.state.oh.us.