Information Hub for the
U.S. 23 Corridor
Supporting sensible solutions for U.S. 23 in Central Ohio.
You’re probably here because, like us, you’re tired of the traffic delays and daily frustrations along U.S. 23 in Delaware County, Ohio. You know there has to be a better way, and there is. Practical solutions for both the short and long term are absolutely possible and turning them into reality will take just a small, shared effort from us all.
For that reason, please take action now before it’s too late, and we’re stuck dealing with the same U.S. 23 challenges we’re all trying to fix. Your participation truly matters and plays an essential role in shaping a smarter, safer, and more effective future for U.S. 23 and Central Ohio.
To make things easy, we’ve created a simple 3-step process and invite you to begin today by completing Step 1.
Step 1. Make Your Voice Heard
Letter Service
Make a real impact in less than 3 minutes by encouraging your state elected officials to do the right thing. We’ve done the hard work for you because we know how busy life can be. Simply fill in the fields below and share your thoughts using the prompts provided.
For maximum impact, we’ll print and send your letter on your behalf as a complimentary service.
Who Will Receive Your Input
Your State Senator
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Your State Representative
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Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT)
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Other relevant public officials and stakeholders as the project continues to develop.
What Matters Most to You
Select 1–3 Items:
💸 Bad Deal for Taxpayers
Ohio Has Too Many Unfunded Priorities Already: ODOT has hundreds of critical transportation projects statewide that remain unfunded, totaling tens of billions of dollars. Spending over $1 billion on a new connector would pull funding away from urgent safety, bridge, and congestion projects Ohio communities are still waiting for.
Connector Options Cost More Than They’re Worth: All connector concepts require major public funding making every option a costly burden for taxpayers.
Existing Corridor Improvements Offer Better Value: Targeted phased improvements to the existing U.S. 23 corridor will deliver actual safety and travel-time benefits for the short term. This proven phased approach should continue as part of a responsible long-term strategy to improve the existing route.
⏱️ Minimal Time Savings and Limited Use
Even The Best Options Offer Little Time Savings: All connector concepts provide only minimal travel-time savings. The strongest concepts save only 4 minutes in normal conditions.
Misses the Real Traffic Problem: Connector concepts primarily benefit long-haul travel, not local drivers, who overwhelmingly remain on U.S. 23. Only a trivial share of through-drivers would use the connector.
🌳 Environmental and Community Impacts
Converts Prime Agricultural Land to Pavement: A new connector would require substantial new right-of-way, permanently converting significant acreage of productive farmland to pavement.
Unavoidable Environmental Damage: All concepts cross major stream networks and floodplains, creating significant environmental risk, even along so-called “preferred” corridors. Routes would directly impact sensitive natural areas, introducing long-term ecological uncertainty.
Turning Flood Risk Into a Permanent Problem: A new connector would increase runoff and disrupt existing floodplains, worsening annual flooding risks for nearby communities and shifting long-term costs and damage onto local residents.
🏘️ Locals Do Not Want It
Not the Type of Development Our Communities Want: Local families, businesses, and community leaders agree, a new connector does not reflect the type of growth we value for the region.
Disrupts Farm Operations: A new connector would fragment working farms and interfere with how farmers access and manage their land. Including long-established, multi-generational family farms, properties that represent decades or even centuries, of family heritage, investment, and community identity.
Hurts Property Values: All connector routes would require significant property takings and relocations, disrupt established communities and reduce population stability. This will depress home values and encourage those with the means to leave, undermining local tax bases and threatening funding for schools and essential local services.
Disrupts Local Economic Plans: Every connector alignment conflicts with active or planned development and requires substantial right-of-ways, causing redesign costs and disrupting local growth plans centered on the existing U.S. 23 corridor.
🛑 Does Not Deliver Safety
Does Not Address Real Problem Areas: A new connector would not fix the daily safety risks local drivers face at dangerous intersections and signalized sections where most U.S. 23 safety issues occur.
Creates New Problem Areas: A new connector would strain already limited rural emergency services and increase risk to residents by diverting emergency resources and restricting mobility due to one-way and limited-entry roadway designs.
Finally, but most importantly, please share your story!
Tell officials how this directly affects you, your family, or your community.
Tips for Your Personal Statement: Keep it short and focused. Think of it like an elevator pitch, not an essay. Share what matters most to you and how this project would directly affect you, your family, or your community. Being specific about nearby roads, neighborhoods, schools, or local impacts makes your message stronger and more meaningful. If you’re stuck or unsure what to write, don’t hesitate to reach out to us. We’re happy to help.
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Review and Sign Your Letters
Feedback To ODOT
How to Provide Feedback to ODOT
You can submit feedback to the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) in two ways:
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Directly through the project website:
Link: US 23/I-71 Connector Feasibility Study PID 123988 - Public Input -
By email to the ODOT Project Manager:
Jeff Hipp – 23-71study@dot.ohio.gov
What to Consider When Providing Feedback
Do not assume someone else has raised the same concern. If it matters to you, say it. The more specific your feedback, the more weight it carries. Written comments become part of the official project record, so clarity and specificity matter.
Location-Specific Impacts
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Exact roads, intersections, neighborhoods, or parcels near you
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Distance from your home, business, school, or property
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Daily routes you use that would be affected
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Emergency access routes (fire, police, EMS)
Property and Land Impacts
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Potential property acquisition or loss of land
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Effects on property value or future use
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Impacts to farmland, agricultural operations, or undeveloped land
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Changes to access points, driveways, or frontage
Environmental and Natural Resources
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Streams, creeks, wetlands, drainage ditches, or flood-prone areas
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Groundwater concerns, wells, or stormwater runoff
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Wooded areas, wildlife habitat, or migration corridors
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Parks, trails, greenways, or preserved land
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Soil quality, erosion, and long-term land stability
Community and Quality of Life
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Noise, vibration, and light pollution
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Visual impacts and changes to the character of the area
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Increased cut-through traffic on local roads
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Safety for pedestrians, cyclists, children, and school routes
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Impacts to churches, schools, historic sites, or community spaces
Traffic and Safety
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Current congestion issues and where they occur
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Crash history or near-miss experiences
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Truck traffic concerns (volume, speed, routing)
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Whether the proposal improves or worsens local safety
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Effects on local intersections versus through traffic
Economic and Fiscal Concerns
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Cost to taxpayers versus measurable benefits
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Long-term maintenance and future funding obligations
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Whether funds could be better spent improving existing roads
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Impact on local businesses (positive or negative)
Alternatives and Improvements
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Support for targeted upgrades to existing U.S. 23
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Preference for safety improvements over new construction
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Suggestions for specific intersections or segments to improve
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Whether a new connector is necessary at all
Long-Term Planning
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Consistency with local plans, zoning, and growth goals
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Whether the project serves local residents or primarily through traffic
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Long-term consequences that cannot be undone once built
Final Tip
Clear, respectful, and detailed feedback is far more effective than short general statements. Describe what you see, what you experience, and what you believe would be a better path forward.
Step 2. Stay Informed and Engaged
The Issue
State lawmakers have directed the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) and the Ohio Turnpike and Infrastructure Commission (OTIC) to study whether building a brand-new freeway between U.S. 23 and I-71 is feasible.
But the reality is clear: a new freeway is not the answer. High costs, limited benefits, and significant community and environmental impacts make pursuing this type of project extraordinarily irresponsible.
What Ohio truly needs is a long-term, committed plan for the existing U.S. 23 corridor. ODOT must continue prioritizing upgrades to the current route, including finally converting the remaining section near I-270 into a fully access-controlled freeway. We cannot settle for the short-term plan ODOT has proposed.
If we remain silent, state leaders may assume this costly and unnecessary bypass project reflects what communities across Ohio want. We must make it unmistakably clear that We the People expect a better path forward. Ohio deserves smart, responsible transportation investments that address real statewide and local needs rather than fiscally reckless projects with massive long-term consequences.
We need infrastructure that genuinely supports our communities, our economy, and our future. Not bogus freight bypass schemes that lock the region into irreversible consequences while delivering insignificant public benefit. Together, we can push for meaningful, long-term improvements to existing infrastructure that strengthen our region and create lasting benefits for generations to come.
For decades, this issue has been allowed to fester, forcing drivers to rely on a growing patchwork of bypasses to avoid congestion. That cycle cannot—and must not—continue.
NOTICE: Several different title variations are used throughout ODOT’s websites and reports related to this project. Examples include: I-71/U.S. 23, US 23 to I-71, US-23 to I-71, among others.
All images, documents, and materials featured in this section are reproduced from the Ohio Department of Transportation’s official website. They are presented here for informational purposes only.
Step 3. Show Up When It Counts
Attend key meetings and public sessions. Your presence matters, and a united public voice speaks volumes.
As new official meetings are announced, we’ll post all dates and details here.
Act Now Don't Delay
Spread the word. Make sure everyone's voice is heard before the first public meeting.