Ohio
Turnpike, Legislative authority created The Ohio Turnpike Commission
in 1949. Groundbreaking happened in 1952 with as many as 10,000 workers
on the job at one time during peak construction periods. The project was
completed in 1955 with 44,000 vehicles traveling its blacktop the first
day of use. It is officially named the James W. Shocknessy Ohio Turnpike
after the agency’s first chairman.
Statistically, Ohio commuting residents are not the main travelers on
the Ohio Turnpike. With only three percent (3%) of the users being daily
travelers, it is not considered a commuter road. Per recent surveys,
seventy-five percent (75%) of the travelers on the Ohio Turnpike are
from other states, primarily Michigan, Pennsylvania, Virginia and
Indiana. This type of usage accounts for the high toll rates experienced
on this roadway. It is supported almost entirely from tolls collected.
It gets no state or federal tax dollars. Even the state of Ohio’s $.40
per gallon gasoline tax is only passed on to the Turnpike at a rate of
$.05 per gallon and then only from gas sales actually made from the
Turnpike’s gas stations. This small portion of state tax money received
by the Turnpike Commission is specifically allocated to the maintenance
and repairs of the bridges and overpasses that are part of state routes.
With an accident rate of less than half the national average, The Ohio
Turnpike remains one of the safest roads in the nation. One of the
attributes provided by the Ohio Turnpike Commission to ensure this
highway’s safety is the addition of specific Truckers Lounges at each of
their service plazas. These lounge areas have couches, tables and a set
of televisions. There is also a designated indoor smoking area and
separate restroom and shower facilities for truckers as well as
coin-operated clothes washers and dryers.
The Ohio Turnpike has 14 service plazas conveniently located
approximately 30 miles apart along the 241-mile long toll road. The
service plazas, seven eastbound and seven westbound, are open 24 hours a
day throughout the year and offer travelers a variety of amenities
without having to exit the toll road.
There are currently 31 interchanges on the Ohio Turnpike. Two terminals
connect with the Pennsylvania Turnpike in the east and the Indiana Toll
Road in the west. The 29 others provide access to and from U.S., state
and interstate routes, and two county / local roads. The Turnpike
connects with 5 major interstate highways: from east to west – 80E, 77,
71, 90 and 75.
|
Accident
on the Ohio Turnpike?
Online
Accident Evaluation Form
Call toll-free
1-800-318-LAW1
Free. No Obligation.
 |
