Ohio transportation project list accelerated

Associated Press

COLUMBUS

Several big-ticket Ohio transportation projects, including a major bridge in Cleveland, work on Interstate 75 in southwest Ohio and a downtown interchange in Columbus, will start earlier thanks to additional spending announced Wednesday by the state Department of Transportation.

The department said it accelerated the construction time line for some projects by cutting costs and taking other steps to identify $400 million in funding that can be used next year.

The money saved that will be used next year includes $20 million not spent by the highway department’s district offices this year, $90 million in work force reductions and improved efficiency, and $90 million in higher-than-projected gas-tax receipts and the elimination of federal earmarks.

The department hopes to find additional savings in coming years to further speed up the schedule.

The state Transportation Review Advisory Council approved the revised funding list Wednesday for about three dozen major projects.