The Logistics Lane project includes proposed improvements in seven locations within a two-mile section of Ohio 7. (Image Provided)

MARIETTA — A project to improve safety along a two-mile stretch of Ohio 7 between Marietta and Belpre and enhance technology providing information on shipping traffic along the Ohio River will receive more than $8.7 million in federal funding.

The office of U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, and the Ohio Department of Transportation announced the $8,773,800 award from the Nationally Significant Multimodal Freight & Highway Projects program Friday.

The project, dubbed “Logistics Lane,” will include construction of a grade separated crossing of Ohio 7 for traffic on Washington County Road 10, according to the release from Brown’s office. This will reduce the number of access points along the state route and allow other access points to be converted to right-turn-only access, it said.

The goal is to eliminate interactions of public road traffic with material-handling vehicles moving across County Road 10 from loading or unloading Ohio River barges to warehousing facilities, the release said.

In addition to infrastructure that can facilitate testing and deployment of other “smart mobility solutions” in the Logistics Lane corridor, the project includes expansion of the Central Ohio River Business Association’s Central Ohio River Information System. The web-based application displays individual port information along with an Automatic Identification System (AIS) receiver network that allows users to see boat movements on the Ohio River for scheduled deliveries. The proposal would extend coverage to the entire Ohio River corridor along the Buckeye State’s southern border, the release said.

“Today, we are taking important steps to improve road safety for Ohioans traveling on State Route 7 while ensuring barges on the Ohio River and trucks serving businesses in the corridor are able to keep commerce moving without disruption,” Brown said in the release. “The Ohio River serves as a major logistics hub for communities across Ohio, and this investment will help attract new investment to the region.”

The ODOT release said the total cost of the project is estimated at $14.6 million. Construction will take place from 2026-2028.

ODOT District 10 has worked with Washington County Engineer Roger Wright to develop the project, the release said.

“The corridor between the City of Belpre and the City of Marietta, connected by State Route 7, is vital to the economic well-being of our entire county, acting as a conduit for existing business throughout our county and the surrounding region,” Wright said in the release. “Further, this corridor has the potential for future business development, with the project having the potential to link the Ohio River transportation system, the railroad transportation system and the commercial trucking transportation system.”

Washington County Commissioner James Booth said he’s happy to see federal investment in the county and understands ODOT sees this as a safety issue. However, he noted the county continues to pursue basic infrastructure needs like sewer service for businesses along Ohio 7 and wishes some federal funding could have gone toward that.

“It’s just a tough call,” Booth said. “I’m not down on the project.”

Staff reporter Michelle Dillon contributed to this story.

Evan Bevins can be reached at ebevins@newsandsentinel.com