Area transportation planners say the construction of the project could fuel and sustain hundreds of jobs.
The Vandalia road project is one of the first local examples of the new Ohio gas tax in action.
The county was awarded $8 million for the expansion by the Transportation Review Advisory Council. TRAC is a statewide panel that selects major projects and investments for ODOT to undertake. The total project cost will be $12.6 million.
EARLIER REPORTING: State panel approves $8 million for Dayton airport access work
The project will span a little more than a mile, between Union Airpark Boulevard and the Airport Access Interchange, including the ramps. The traffic signals will also be upgraded, according to the county’s application for the funding.
“After more than a year of working on this project, I’m thrilled to see the expansion of U.S. Route 40 funded and moving forward. Expanding this highway will support business and economic development projects in our region, as well as create more job opportunities for our citizens,” said Debbie Lieberman, Montgomery County Commission president. “I am so grateful to our local partners who have helped provide funding and support for this project.”
MORE: 10.5-cent gas tax increase signed by Gov. DeWine
The project is a direct result of the gas tax that was approved earlier this year, said Matt Bruning, spokesman for Ohio Department of Transportation. In April, Gov. DeWine signed into law a transportation budget that included an additional tax of 10.5-cents per gallon of gas and 19-cents per gallon of diesel, beginning July 1.
The state gas tax was previously 28-cents per gallon and hadn’t been increased since 2005.
TRAC opted to fund 20 of 27 projects that were placed before the panel, for a total cost of $398 million.
Staff writer Kaitlin Schroeder contributed to this report.
About the Author
