As part of the comprehensive Far East Freeway project, construction crews in Ohio are upgrading the interchanges of I-70/I-270/Brice Road along I-70 eastbound in Columbus. The multi-phased Far East Freeway undertaking calls for a series of improvements designed to address growing travel demand between Columbus and east-central Ohio by upgrading I-70 from Livingston Avenue in Franklin County to the Fairfield/Licking County line.
"I-70 westbound between I-270 and Brice Road is a very heavily traveled stretch of roadway, with both interchanges experiencing high traffic volumes," ODOT transportation engineer Heath Houser told Construction Equipment Guide. "The westbound section of I-70 between the I-270 and Brice Road interchanges is prone to congestion because of the weaving that occurs between drivers entering from Brice Road and those shifting right to exit onto I-270. The goal of the westbound project is to reduce the merge/weave that creates congestion along this section of I-70."
The Far East Freeway project actually consists of four areas, each with its own series of phases. Construction on the $90 million westbound phase began in the spring of 2025. Shelly & Sands serves as the prime contractor for this work, as well as the eastbound phase that's winding down.
"ODOT has partnered with Shelly & Sands on many projects across central Ohio and statewide, and we have a strong working relationship," said Houser. "Their role in the earlier phase also provides valuable continuity between the two phases of the Far East Freeway improvements."
In addition to improving I-70 westbound, the project is also replacing and widening the Brice Road bridge over I-70.
"Currently, Brice Road is reduced to one lane in each direction, and these closures will remain in place through Summer 2027 as the bridge is rebuilt one half at a time. Drivers also should expect overnight lane and ramp closures, along with traffic shifts, throughout the duration of construction."
Houser noted the biggest challenge on the job is completing a significant amount of work within a very tight footprint while keeping traffic moving safely.
"Crews are rebuilding the Brice Road bridge over I‑70 and constructing a second adjacent bridge, all in carefully sequenced phases. The project also requires multiple retaining walls for the bridges and ramps, which adds to the complexity of planning and staging each step of construction."
Houser said the western half of the existing Brice Road bridge has been demolished. The widening of I-70 westbound is taking place where the proposed collector/distributor (ramp) lanes will be, as well as ramp realignment at the 70/270 interchange.
"The work is going well. Utility conflicts have been a problem for the project, however, because the number of utilities is in such a tight area, especially along Brice Road."
The project is on schedule to complete the first half of the new structures in 2026, after which work will shift to the next phase. Construction began in July 2025 to rebuild the western half of the Brice Road bridge over I-70. Because the structure is down to one lane in each direction, crews must stay highly alert while working next to heavy traffic. It has required careful planning to safely carry out the work in such a high-traffic area."
The new Brice Road bridge over I-70 is a two-span continuous steel girder structure spanning 229 ft. 11 in. (135 ft. 2 in. and 94 ft. 9 in. spans) from centerline of the abutment bearings. The new Brice Road bridge over the new I-70WB CD lanes is a single-span steel girder structure spanning 67 ft. from centerline of the abutment bearings.
In order to reconfigure ramps from Brice Road to I-70 westbound, MSE/cast-in-place retaining walls are being built for the 70WB to Brice Road ramp, and the Brice Road ramp to 70WB. These walls reach 21 ft. in height at the peak.
To reconstruct the I-70 westbound ramp to I-270 northbound, a permanent soil‑nail wall is required to support the cast‑in‑place retaining wall needed to widen the ramp. Because the forward abutment of the I‑70 eastbound to I‑270 northbound bridge sits so close to this ramp, the retaining wall is essential for both the widening work and the necessary realignment.
A total of 104,198 cu. yds. of excavation was estimated on the project, along with 94,342 cu. yds. of embankment. Standard heavy equipment on the job includes cranes, dump trucks, excavators, dozers and pile driving equipment. Asphalt, concrete, rebar, steel beams and MSE panels/sand are among the materials being used.
As for eastbound work, that $79.5 million project is in final configuration. "The I-70 eastbound improvements added a new flyover ramp from I-270 southbound to I-70 eastbound and reconfigured the ramps from I-270 northbound and I-70 eastbound to Brice Road," Houser explained. "These changes have significantly improved safety in the corridor by reducing the weaving that previously occurred as drivers moved across multiple lanes to reach Brice Road or continue on I-70 eastbound.
"It's been very rewarding to have the new flyover ramp open after being involved in the three-year construction process. It's cool to see the final product and the benefit to the public after years of coordination and problem solving."
According to Houser, ODOT has received a lot of positive feedback from the public since the new flyover ramp opened, with many motorists saying it's now much easier to merge onto I-70 eastbound. Drivers also are looking forward to the upcoming improvements farther east at the SR 256 interchange, which will help address the additional congestion that occurs in that area.
Winter weather had an impact on both the eastbound and westbound projects. To avoid delays, Houser said careful planning has been essential, especially regarding bridge deck work.
"Because temperatures and precipitation can change rapidly in Ohio, the team had to schedule concrete pours and other weather-sensitive activities during narrow windows when conditions were suitable. This required close coordination, flexibility and constant monitoring of forecasts to keep the project moving despite the unpredictable start to the year."
Although the elements, including extreme swings in conditions, made for an unpredictable start to 2026, Houser remains optimistic.
"It's incredibly meaningful to contribute to a project that will benefit motorists for years to come. Knowing that the work will help people save time on their daily commute and move more safely through a busy area makes the effort feel truly worthwhile. It's rewarding to play even a small part in delivering those long-term improvements."
