Attendees to the Ohio Department of Transportation District 10’s public meeting review the project plans in an open house-style meeting at the Armory on Tuesday. (Photo by Gwen Sour)

MARIETTA — The Ohio Department of Transportation District 10 hosted a public meeting Tuesday evening to discuss significant improvements planned for State Route 7.

The meeting, held at the Armory in Marietta, was an opportunity for community members to learn about the proposed Logistics Lane Project, aimed at enhancing safety and accommodating future traffic growth.

Ashley Rittenhouse, Public Information Officer for ODOT District 10, explained the need for the project, which targets a stretch of State Route 7 between the Veto Road and Northern Blue Knob Road intersections.

“This project is driven by two primary factors,” said Rittenhouse. “First, we’re addressing a pattern of crashes in this section, with safety as the top priority. Second, studies show we can expect a significant increase in traffic in the coming years, and the current configuration won’t be able to handle that demand.”

At the meeting, ODOT presented several project alternatives and identified a recommended preferred alternative. Key components of this proposal include:

* Restricted Crossing U-Turns (R-Cuts): Planned for the Veto Road and Gravel Bank Road intersections, R-Cuts are designed to reduce conflict points by restricting left turns and cross-traffic movements. Drivers would make a right turn, proceed a short distance, and then make a U-turn to head in the desired direction.

* Interchange Construction: A new interchange is proposed for the Northern Blue Knob Road intersection to improve traffic flow and safety.

“R-Cuts are proven to reduce crashes by simplifying traffic movements,” Rittenhouse explained. “While they’re new to our area, they’ve been implemented successfully across the country.”

The project also addresses the frequent flooding along this section of Route 7, which runs close to the Ohio River. ODOT plans to incorporate measures to reduce flood risks as part of the improvements.

“With traffic expected to grow significantly, these updates will help ensure the corridor is equipped to handle future demands while improving overall safety,” said Rittenhouse.

Tuesday’s meeting featured displays detailing crash data, flooding concerns, and architectural sketches of the proposed plans. Attendees were encouraged to ask questions and provide feedback. According to data provided by ODOT, the Veto Road and Blue Knob Road intersection saw a high percentage of injury crashes from 2018-2023 with seven of the 12 accidents ending in injury, two of which included fatalities.

“Public input is a crucial part of our process,” said Rittenhouse. “We’ve worked with local businesses along this corridor for months and are now seeking input from the wider community.”

A 30-day public comment period follows the meeting, during which residents can submit questions or feedback via mail, email, or phone. ODOT plans to finalize the project’s design after reviewing public comments and stakeholder feedback. Construction is tentatively scheduled to begin in 2028.

For more information about the project or to submit feedback, community members can visit transportation.ohio.gov/logisticslane or reach out to the project contact Matthew First at Matthew.First@dot.ohio.gov or at 740-568-3945.

Gwen Sour can be reached at gsour@newsandsentinel.com