News & commentary
I-73 feasibility study due December 31
I-73
Ohio General Assembly · H.B. 54, Section 755.50
December 31, 2026
ODOT is required to complete an I-73 feasibility study by December 31, 2026. The study examines a potential interstate corridor connecting Toledo to Chesapeake, Ohio, primarily along existing US 23.
US23FIX COMMENTARY
We look forward to the study’s release. Decisions must be grounded in reliable data, not assumptions or speculation.
Alignment with US23FIX priorities
○ ○ ● ○ ○ Neutral / mixed
This post announces the report deadline.
Senator Moreno pledges to oppose US 23 / I-71 Connector without Morrow County’s support
US 23 / I-71 Connector
Morrow County Republican Party
October 15, 2026
The Morrow County Republican Party shared a video of Senator Bernie Moreno’s remarks at its Century Club Dinner. In the accompanying announcement, the party quotes Moreno saying he would work to prevent the connector from proceeding while Morrow County opposes it.
His statement represents a commitment to oppose the project, rather than an official announcement that the study or project has been canceled.
US23FIX COMMENTARY
US23FIX strongly supports Senator Moreno’s commitment to stand with Morrow County against the studied bypass. Ohio should choose No Build on the US 23 / I-71 Connector and fund phased 23 Connect improvements that serve local communities and regional traffic. Fix the road people already use.
Alignment with US23FIX priorities
○ ○ ○ ○ ● Strongly aligned
Opposing the connector and respecting affected communities directly support US23FIX’s No Build position.
Backup not yet available.
Blade report suggests Ramaswamy backs faster connector construction
US 23 / I-71 Connector
The Blade · Alice Momany
October 13, 2026
The Blade reports that Vivek Ramaswamy questioned a 2035 construction start for the US 23 / I-71 Connector and described potential economic benefits during an interview with its editorial board. The article also reports that his campaign subsequently said he wanted to evaluate the study’s findings and that the connector would receive consideration as future budget priorities were developed.
US23FIX COMMENTARY
The headline suggests a firm commitment, while the campaign’s follow-up says the report still needs evaluation. We question whether the article’s framing stretches Ramaswamy’s comments into a firmer endorsement of this connector than he intended. Vivek Ramaswamy and his running mate, Rob McColley, should clearly state whether they support or oppose building the US 23 / I-71 Connector. US23FIX opposes the bypass. We mark this coverage Opposed, rather than Strongly opposed, because its framing and the campaign’s qualified response leave their precise position unclear.
Alignment with US23FIX priorities
○ ● ○ ○ ○ Misaligned
Opposed (Misaligned), rather than strongly opposed: the article presents support for advancing the connector, but uncertainty about the framing and the campaign’s conditional response warrants direct clarification from Ramaswamy and McColley.
Backup not yet available.
US 23 / I-71 Connector report due October 1
US 23 / I-71 Connector
Ohio Department of Transportation
October 1, 2026
ODOT’s final US 23 / I-71 Connector feasibility study is due to the Ohio General Assembly on October 1, 2026. The report is expected to address traffic and travel time projections, tolling, construction and property costs, community and environmental impacts, and improvements needed on I-71.
US23FIX COMMENTARY
We look forward to the report’s release. Decisions must be grounded in reliable data, not assumptions or speculation.
Alignment with US23FIX priorities
○ ○ ● ○ ○ Neutral / mixed
This post announces the report deadline.
Blade editorial opposes a gas-tax holiday and calls for bypass funding
US 23 / I-71 Connector
The Blade · Editorial
September 25, 2026
In “Gas tax gimmick,” The Blade’s editorial board criticizes a proposed temporary Ohio fuel-tax suspension for reducing transportation revenue. It also argues that lost funding should not derail the proposed US 23 / I-71 bypass, which it promotes as an important commercial connection between Toledo and Columbus.
US23FIX COMMENTARY
Protecting transportation funding matters. US23FIX wants that funding directed to justified 23 Connect improvements. We oppose committing it to the studied bypass, whose land impacts, costs, and long-term risks are not justified by the benefits presented.
Alignment with US23FIX priorities
● ○ ○ ○ ○ Strongly misaligned
The editorial calls for continued support for the studied bypass, directly conflicting with US23FIX’s No Build priority.
What Route 23 Connect Could Mean for Delaware County
23 Connect
SourcePoint
September 21, 2026
A recap of a discussion with an ODOT engineer explains proposed corridor improvements and the separate steps needed to design, fund, and build them.
US23FIX COMMENTARY
A practical plan needs a practical funding commitment. US23FIX supports advancing the highest-priority 23 Connect improvements while addressing local access and safety concerns in each project's design.
Alignment with US23FIX priorities
○ ○ ○ ● ○ Aligned
The discussion focuses on practical improvements to existing U.S. 23. Coverage of a project does not imply that the publisher endorses US23FIX's position.
Guest opinion: the connector would change rural Ohio’s landscape
US 23 / I-71 Connector
Columbus Underground · Dr. Bryce Mortera · Opinion
September 19, 2026
In a guest opinion, Dr. Bryce Mortera argues that the proposed US 23 / I-71 Connector would encourage development that erodes rural character and farmland. He questions the opportunity cost of the investment and the long-term maintenance burden, making the case for directing public money toward other transportation and community needs.
US23FIX COMMENTARY
Rural land and public funding are lasting commitments. US23FIX supports No Build on the studied connector and moving forward with reasonable, justified improvements to existing U.S. 23 through 23 Connect.
Alignment with US23FIX priorities
○ ○ ○ ○ ● Strongly aligned
The opinion directly opposes the connector on rural-land, cost, and investment-priority grounds that closely match US23FIX’s position.
Farm Bureau opposes connector, citing farmland loss and local costs
US 23 / I-71 Connector
Ohio Ag Net / Ohio’s Country Journal · Ty Higgins
September 17, 2026
Ohio’s Country Journal reports Ohio Farm Bureau’s continued opposition to the proposed connector. The organization calls for a fuller accounting of farmland losses, long-term community effects, and costs beyond the state’s road budget, including local policing and emergency services. It also questions the project’s priority among Ohio’s infrastructure needs.
US23FIX COMMENTARY
The project’s price must reflect the costs communities would carry, including emergency services and disrupted agricultural operations. Farm Bureau’s concerns support US23FIX’s call for No Build on the connector and practical investment in existing U.S. 23.
Alignment with US23FIX priorities
○ ○ ○ ○ ● Strongly aligned
Farm Bureau’s opposition and its focus on farmland, local services, and complete costs strongly support US23FIX’s No Build position.
October 6: bypass report meeting and legislative candidate forum
US 23 / I-71 Connector
Posted September 12, 2026
A public update on ODOT’s final bypass report, followed by a legislative candidate forum and audience questions.
HOSTED BY
Concerned Citizens of Morrow County
Tuesday, October 6, 2026
6–8 p.m. Eastern
Morrow County Fairgrounds
195 S Main St · Mount Gilead, OH 43338
Download calendar invite (.ics) ↓
Evening agenda
6–6:30 p.m. · ODOT report update
Review of ODOT’s final report on the proposed bypass.
6:30–8 p.m. · Candidate forum and Q&A
Hear invited state legislative candidates’ positions on the bypass, then ask questions. The organizer plans three minutes per candidate before the audience Q&A.
Check the organizer’s post for the specific fairgrounds building and any changes. CCMC states that it does not endorse or oppose candidates.
US23FIX COMMENTARY
Ask candidates about project costs, local impacts, funding, and transportation priorities. US23FIX supports informed public participation; this listing is not a candidate endorsement.
Alignment with US23FIX priorities
○ ○ ○ ● ○ Aligned
Public questions and transparent candidate positions support informed scrutiny of the bypass.
Recreation Unlimited warns the connector could disrupt its disability camp
US 23 / I-71 Connector
NBC4 / WCMH · Stephanie Thompson
Updated August 29, 2026
NBC4 reports that Recreation Unlimited, a nonprofit serving people with disabilities near Ashley, is concerned about the preferred connector route near its campus. Its leadership warns that traffic noise and visual disruption could affect the quiet setting campers rely on, including visitors with sensory sensitivities.
US23FIX COMMENTARY
Recreation Unlimited is an established community resource. Its concerns show why the connector decision must account for the people and services already here. US23FIX favors improving existing U.S. 23 and protecting resources that communities depend on.
Alignment with US23FIX priorities
○ ○ ○ ● ○ Aligned
The coverage highlights a community resource and potential disruption to the people it serves, supporting US23FIX’s concerns about local impacts.
Blade editorial urges leaders to make the bypass a priority
US 23 / I-71 Connector
The Blade · Editorial
August 12, 2026
In “Bypass battle rages in central Ohio,” The Blade’s editorial board advocates a US 23 / I-71 connection despite local opposition. It urges northwest Ohio leaders to make the route a priority, citing Toledo–Columbus commerce and anticipated trade tied to the Gordie Howe bridge. The editorial also encourages consideration of toll funding.
US23FIX COMMENTARY
Projected trade growth does not justify dismissing the people and farms in the route’s path. US23FIX supports funding justified improvements through 23 Connect and choosing No Build on the studied bypass.
Alignment with US23FIX priorities
● ○ ○ ○ ○ Strongly misaligned
The editorial explicitly advocates the new connector and urges political action to advance it, directly opposing US23FIX’s No Build priority.
Farmers fear the connector could divide their land and livelihood
US 23 / I-71 Connector
FOX 28 / WSYX · Annabelle Kinney
August 5, 2026
FOX 28 reports concerns from farmers and residents about the proposed connector through Marion, Morrow, and Delaware counties. Farmers describe the risk of divided fields and lost access, while local officials raise questions about emergency response and schools. Several residents favor improvements to existing U.S. 23.
US23FIX COMMENTARY
Working farms depend on connected fields and usable local roads. Those impacts, along with emergency access and school transportation, belong in the decision. US23FIX supports practical 23 Connect improvements and No Build on the studied connector.
Alignment with US23FIX priorities
○ ○ ○ ● ○ Aligned
The reported concerns about farm access and local services reinforce US23FIX’s case for protecting communities and improving the existing corridor.
US 23 / I-71 Connector: ODOT announces August public meetings
US 23 / I-71 Connector
Ohio Department of Transportation
July 10, 2026
ODOT announced meetings on the preferred alignment and a September 1, 2026 comment deadline. That deadline has passed. The notice identifies October 1, 2026 as the final-report submission date.
US23FIX COMMENTARY
A study deadline is a decision point for public scrutiny. Ohio should assess the full network cost, land impacts, and benefits alongside improvements to existing U.S. 23 before committing to construction. Our position remains No Build on the bypass.
Alignment with US23FIX priorities
○ ○ ● ○ ○ Neutral / mixed
This is a procedural agency notice. It informs public participation but does not itself establish whether building the bypass is justified.
February 2026 letter analysis: farmland, local access, and community stability
US 23 / I-71 Connector
US23FIX
February 2026
US23FIX’s February 2026 Letter Impact Analysis reviewed personal impact statements and structured concern selections submitted in response to the US 23 / I-71 Connector Study. The report identifies support for improving the existing corridor and recurring concerns about farmland, farm continuity, and residential stability.
What the report found
Improve the existing corridor. Both forms of input favored addressing congestion and safety along U.S. 23.
Protect working farms. Contributors raised permanent soil loss, fragmented agricultural operations, and the continuity of family farms.
Consider household and community stability. Submissions described concerns about property values, displacement, retirement security, and changes around new interchanges.
How the analysis was prepared
The report used thematic coding of personal statements, including frequency and weighted analysis, alongside separately analyzed structured concern selections. Read the full five-page PDF for its methodology, findings, and comparison of corridor improvements with a new alignment.
The document is dated February 2026. It records an earlier community effort and does not provide updated participation counts or establish how every resident views the project.
US23FIX COMMENTARY
These submissions explain why the location and permanence of a new highway matter to affected communities. US23FIX supports funding practical 23 Connect improvements and No Build on the studied connector. The report documents the input it reviewed.
Alignment with US23FIX priorities
○ ○ ○ ○ ● Strongly aligned
The report’s preference for existing-corridor improvements and its focus on lasting local impacts support US23FIX’s priorities.
Coover Road: a 23 Connect safety priority moves into project study
23 Connect
Ohio Department of Transportation
May 27, 2025
ODOT's 2025 meeting notice identifies the U.S. 23/Coover Road intersection as a high-priority location from 23 Connect, with 30 crashes reported between 2021 and 2023. This is background coverage, not a current meeting notice.
US23FIX COMMENTARY
This is the kind of specific corridor problem funding should address. Advancing an intersection study is progress.
Alignment with US23FIX priorities
○ ○ ○ ● ○ Aligned
Addressing a documented safety problem on existing U.S. 23 supports practical corridor improvements.
Senate testimony: the case made for a US 23 / I-71 connection
US 23 / I-71 Connector
Ohio Senate · Paula Hicks-Hudson
March 5, 2025
At the March 5, 2025 Senate Transportation Committee hearing on House Bill 54, Senator Paula Hicks-Hudson advocated a connection between U.S. 23 and I-71. Her written testimony cited travel delays, safety concerns, and anticipated truck traffic associated with the Gordie Howe bridge.
Senator Bill Reineke also expressed strong support for the connector proposal during the hearing. Watch the full hearing for context ↗
Watch the hearing
Use the full meeting for context around individual remarks.
The Ohio Channel recording ↗
Ohio Senate video page ↗
Read the submitted material
Committee meeting and submissions ↗
Paula Hicks-Hudson’s written testimony (PDF) ↗
U.S. 23 Challenges map (PDF) ↗
Keep the studies distinct
The statewide analysis, 23 Connect, and the connector study address different scopes and decision points.
ODOT statewide study library ↗
23 Connect materials ↗
Current connector study materials ↗
This hearing is part of the historical record. It does not establish the status, funding, or final findings of the later connector study.
US23FIX COMMENTARY
US23FIX supports funding justified improvements to existing U.S. 23 and choosing No Build on the bypass.
Alignment with US23FIX priorities
● ○ ○ ○ ○ Strongly misaligned
The testimony explicitly advocates a new US 23 / I-71 connection and challenges the existing-corridor approach. That directly conflicts with US23FIX’s priorities: fund justified 23 Connect improvements and choose No Build on the studied connector.
ODOT publishes STDA: prioritize existing U.S. 23 improvements
23 Connect · US 23 / I-71 Connector
Ohio Department of Transportation
February 14, 2025
On February 14, 2025, Governor Mike DeWine and ODOT released the Strategic Transportation and Development Analysis (STDA), an 18-month review of Ohio’s transportation needs and economic growth. For the Toledo–Columbus corridor, the study prioritized improvements to existing U.S. 23 between Waldo and I-270 and did not recommend an alternative freeway, citing cost and minimal travel-time savings.
What the study found
The Executive Summary (page 85) compares the 23 Connect plan with US 23 / I-71 expressway alternatives in Marion and Delaware counties and a fully freeway U.S. 23 option. ODOT found the existing-corridor plan offered the best combination of benefits, cost effectiveness, and feasibility.
Appendix A (printed page 121) also identifies U.S. 23 in Delaware and Franklin counties as a critical improvement need.
Executive Summary — page 85 (PDF) ↗
Appendix A — printed page 121 (PDF) ↗
Official ODOT study page ↗
US23FIX COMMENTARY
ODOT’s STDA supports US23FIX’s stance: fund justified 23 Connect improvements and choose No Build on the studied US 23 / I-71 Connector. Ohio should put funding behind safer, more reliable travel on the road people already use. This statewide recommendation is an important part of the record as the separate connector study proceeds.
Alignment with US23FIX priorities
○ ○ ○ ○ ● Strongly aligned
The STDA prioritizes existing U.S. 23 improvements and does not recommend an alternative freeway because of cost and minimal travel-time savings.
Legislative archive: full STDA report (PDF) ↗
Download saved document ↓
Toledo Chamber backs U.S. 23 upgrades and presses for a free-flow connection
23 Connect · US 23 / I-71 Connector
Toledo Regional Chamber of Commerce · Advocacy
June 18, 2024
In this June 2024 advocacy update, the Toledo Regional Chamber of Commerce welcomes ODOT’s 23 Connect recommendations as an initial step while continuing to seek an uninterrupted freeway connection between northwest and central Ohio. The Chamber cites commerce, tourism, and anticipated traffic from the Gordie Howe International Bridge, and urges state leaders to implement a broader connection.
US23FIX COMMENTARY
US23FIX agrees that existing U.S. 23 needs safer intersections, more reliable travel, and better traffic flow. We support advancing justified 23 Connect improvements in stages, moving as close as practical to free-flow travel—and achieving it fully over time where needs and benefits justify the investment. We do not support any US 23 / I-71 bypass. In our view, a new corridor would place an unnecessary financial and long-term maintenance burden on Ohio, while imposing lasting costs and disruption on the communities, farms, and businesses in its path. Ohio should prioritize fixing the road people already use. ODOT’s Strategic Transportation and Development Analysis (STDA) supports our stance: prioritize improvements to existing U.S. 23 rather than build an alternative freeway.
Alignment with US23FIX priorities
○ ● ○ ○ ○ Misaligned
The Chamber’s support for existing U.S. 23 improvements overlaps with US23FIX’s priorities. Its broader freeway-connection campaign goes beyond the existing-corridor approach we support; US23FIX opposes using that goal to justify a US 23 / I-71 bypass.