COLUMBUS, Ohio — Pike County will receive nearly $2.8 million for a major safety upgrade at the intersection of State Route 32 and State Route 104, part of a statewide package of roadway improvements announced Monday by Gov. Mike DeWine and the Ohio Department of Transportation.
The project is among 39 safety initiatives funded through ODOT’s Highway Safety Improvement Program, which is allocating $97.2 million for upgrades in 27 counties. According to the state, the program is the largest per‑capita roadway safety investment in the country and has contributed to four consecutive years of declining traffic fatalities and serious injuries.
In Pike County, ODOT District 9 will construct a Restricted Crossing U‑Turn, or RCUT, at the SR 32/SR 104 intersection. The design eliminates traditional left turns and crossing movements from side roads, instead directing drivers to turn right and make a U‑turn at a designated median opening. State officials say RCUTs reduce severe crashes by simplifying traffic movements and improving sight lines.
The Pike County project includes $344,018 for preliminary engineering in 2027, $147,436 for additional engineering in 2028, and $2,047,724 for construction that same year. Construction engineering is budgeted at $204,772, bringing the total investment to $2,743,950.
“We want Ohioans to get from place to place safely,” DeWine said in the announcement. “We put a lot of effort into road design and physical road safety in order to make our roads as safe as possible.”
ODOT Director Pamela Boratyn said the selected projects reflect a data‑driven approach to reducing deadly and serious‑injury crashes. Improvements funded in this round include roundabouts, turn lanes, intersection upgrades, enhanced signage, high‑visibility crosswalks, sidewalks, and bike lanes.
Projects will be funded between fiscal years 2026 and 2031.
Ohio’s Highway Safety Improvement Program targets locations with a history of severe crashes where previous safety measures have not been effective.