Final phase of I-75 construction may be near

Officials with the Ohio Department of Transportation said the third and final phase of construction on Interstate 75 will likely be done sooner than expected.

The project was originally delayed because of a budget crunch, but now ODOT is calling the project the most important travel construction project in the state.

Phase three will focus on I-75 in downtown Dayton. ODOT recently said the project would be delayed for one year, but now work could begin in the fall.

During Dayton's City Commission Meeting on Wednesday, the project manager gave a preview of what phase three will look like once it is completed.

The project is a key piece, which will eliminate the right and left side ramps and the creation of a single interchange between Route 35 and Route 4.

Some projects in Ohio, ODOT had planned, have been delayed 20 years, but officials are optimistic that the  money for phase three will come through next week.

Randy Chevalley with ODOT said, "I use the word high level of confidence. There are high levels and low levels of confidence. I've talked with some folks who know more about the big picture and funding in ODOT and they are optimistic about the projects at the top and since ours is at the top, we have a good chance it will be on the schedule."

The project is estimated to cost about $230 million. ODOT said project plans should take place in April with the bidding process by August and signs of construction of as early as September.

If everything goes as planned, then all the orange barrels could be gone by 2017.