BERKSHIRE TOWNSHIP, Ohio — Officials broke ground today on a companion interchange along I-71 that will reduce congestion and improve safety along two of Delaware County’s busiest corridors while also supporting the future development of the proposed Sunbury Parkway.
The new interchange on I-71 will be located just south of the busy U.S. 36/State Route 37 interchange. The project’s first phase will create a connection to Wilson Road, south of Tanger Outlets. The interchange eventually will support the development of Sunbury Parkway, a proposed east-west regional route between Africa Road and Sunbury that officials say will be key to continued economic prosperity in the area.
The Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) has developed a 7-phase plan for construction of the overall project and has engaged many local stakeholders, including the Delaware County Transportation Improvement District, in the process. Others include Berkshire Township, Berlin Township, the City of Sunbury and the Berkshire Landing New Community Authority.
“We all realize that this project will do more than alleviate slowdowns,” said Commissioner Barb Lewis, president of the Delaware County Board of Commissioners. “This new interchange and the added east-west connection it affords will surely spur further economic development in the area, and it would not have been possible without the partnerships on display today.”
During the ceremony, Delaware County Engineer Chris Bauserman thanked several private-sector partners for their contributions to the project, which he noted also received state and federal infrastructure funding.
“It’s hard to overstate how much this project means for the growth and development of Delaware County and the central Ohio region,” he said. “Future travelers who will benefit from this project may never know of the years of hard work, coordination and persistence it took to make this possible.”
Pictured (left to right) are Sunbury Mayor Joe St. John, Delaware County Engineer Chris Bauserman, Delaware County Commissioner Gary Merrell, State Representative Beth Lear, ODOT District 6 Deputy Director Anthony Turowski, Delaware County Commissioner Barb Lewis and Delaware County Commissioner Jeff Benton.