Lane conversions, removal of gates to take place at several Turnpike plazas

BEREA – Several Ohio drivers who travel on the Turnpike will soon began to see changes as a result of the new Toll Collection System. The changes include lane conversions, the removal of gates at toll plaza interchanges, and the construction and renovation of four mainline toll plazas that will permit E-ZPass open road tolling.

“We are currently undertaking the largest construction project in the history of the Ohio Turnpike since the years leading up to its completion in 1955,” said Ferzan Ahmed, executive director of the Ohio Turnpike and Infrastructure Commission. “The modernization of the turnpike will enable E-ZPass open road tolling and gateless low-speed conventional lanes to enhance the driving experience for our passenger car and commercial truck customers.”

The lane conversions include the installation of new electronic tolling equipment, the removal of all entrance gates, and the removal of gates from only E-ZPass exit lanes. The conversions are currently taking place at the following plazas: Toledo Airport-Swanton/S.R. 2, Stony Ridge-Toledo/S.R. 420 and I-280, North Ridgeville-Cleveland/I-480, and Cleveland/S.R. 21 and I-77.

20 interchanges from toll plazas 52 to 209 along the Turnpike will be converted under the TCS modernization plan. The number of toll plazas will also be reduced from 31 to 24.

“All of the entry gates in the converted lanes will be removed for the benefit of our E-ZPass customers. However, non-E-ZPass customers will have to stop to get a ticket,” Ahmed added. “In addition, we urge all motorists to obey the 10-mph speed limit in all toll lanes for the safety of travelers and turnpike employees. This is especially important as we begin to remove the entry gates as part of our new system conversion.”

The mainline toll plaza at milepost 49 in Swanton (pictured) was the first new or reconstructed mainline toll plaza. Construction on it was substantially completed in late 2021. It is currently being used for testing components of the new system.

The capital cost for the entire TCS project is estimated at about $232 million. The new TCS is expected to save about $257 million in operating costs over 30 years.

PHOTO CREDIT: Ohio Turnpike