ODOT planning slope repairs along U.S. 24 near Defiance

The Blade
Thu, 23 Jan 2020 00:04:53 GMT

DEFIANCE — The Ohio Department of Transportation is seeking public comments about an upcoming project to repair collapsing slopes along U.S. 24 in Defiance County.

The trouble spots are near the westbound exit to State Rts. 15/18 and on both sides of the roadway immediately west of the Baltimore Street interchange.

All are on Defiance’s periphery. While the former location was built in the 1960s, the embankment near Baltimore Street is less than 20 years old.

Cheri Newton, a spokesman at ODOT’s district office in Lima, said the slope failures are the result of “multiple years of very high rainfall events” that have weathered and weakened clay soils in the embankments.

“In addition, the 2019 summer was very hot and dry; such conditions cause the clay soils to shrink and form desiccation cracks, which become pathways for more water,” Ms. Newton said. “These conditions lead to relatively shallow landslides on the embankment slopes.”

The repairs will involve three “separate, relatively small slides with the intent to seek out and study innovative solutions to this common problem,” she said.

Lessons learned from the impending project may help proactive planning for future maintenance and repair projects, the spokesman said.

Construction is scheduled to start in the summer and may require lane or ramp closings. Written comments may be directed to Nate Tessler at the ODOT District 1 office at 1885 N. McCullough St., Lima, OH 45801 or via email to nate.tessler@dot.ohio.gov.

Comments should be received by Jan. 30 (Thursday) and ODOT requests that “U.S. Route 24 slide repairs (PID: 112045)” be referenced in such communications.

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