PHOTO BY BRENNA WHITE / THE VILLAGE REPORTER
ROUNDABOUTS AHEAD … Deputy Director Pat McColley presented the annual ODOT update, highlighting two roundabout projects planned for Williams County in the coming years.
By: Brenna White
THE VILLAGE REPORTER
publisher@thevillagereporter.com
The Williams County Commissioners held a bid opening and an Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) update on their Thursday, May 21, 2026, meeting.
Several upcoming maintenance and construction projects were announced, as well as two roundabouts on U.S. 20 and State Route 49.
The ODOT presentation was delivered by Deputy Director Pat McColley, Transportation Administrator Nick Miller, Highway Maintenance Administrator Mark Bressler, Elliot Richardson and Dain Kelsey.
McColley explained that Ohio maintains the state’s largest man-made asset and the seventh-largest highway system in the nation, which includes 50,000 lane miles and more than 10,000 bridges.
District 2, one of 12 in the state, houses Williams County. A recent district realignment brought Defiance County into District 2 on April 7, 2026. Defiance, Fulton, Henry, Lucas, Ottawa, Sandusky, Seneca, Williams and Wood counties make up the district now.
Maintenance updates specific to Williams County included upcoming culvert work on State Routes (SR) 2 and 34, SR 191, U.S. 20A and U.S. 127, with all work expected to start in the summer months.
Pavement repairs are also planned for U.S. 20, U.S. 6, SR 34 and SR 49 later this fall. ODOT has already completed berming projects in various locations throughout the county this year.
Commissioners were informed that ODOT is also continuing chip seal work in portions of Northwest Ohio, including approximately 1.2 miles of SR 2 in Williams County between the Defiance County line and U.S. 6.
McColley also discussed ongoing safety studies and future roundabout projects along U.S. 20 and SR 49.
One roundabout project at the northern intersection is already funded and currently scheduled for construction in fiscal year 2029.
Officials stated that the intersection has seen increasing traffic volumes. This is because of the large amount of truck traffic bypassing the Ohio Turnpike’s Westgate toll area, the large number of truck stops and frequent truck U-turns.
This funded northern roundabout project currently carries an estimated total cost of approximately $4.25 million.
Notably, the intersection is ranked 139th on the 2024 Highway Safety Improvement Plan for needs of critical improvement.
Since 2021, there have been seven injuries, one property-damage crash and one fatal crash. These factors are what drives ODOT to make changes to make the roadways safer.
Meanwhile, a second separate safety study remains underway for the southern U.S. 20 and SR 49 intersection. ODOT data presented during the meeting showed a single-lane roundabout would provide the greatest reduction in crash severity compared to all other alternatives.
There are 10 crashes that have occurred in the southern portion since 2021.
These were noted to be less severe, but still considered a large number of accidents. More details will follow as the safety study continues, but ODOT is highly considering constructing a second roundabout there as well.
A bid opening was held for Project-3-2026, Asphalt Paving Program. The Gerken Company was the only bid presented at $1,031,700.37.
The Engineer’s estimate for the project was $1,118,212.00. The Engineer’s Department will submit their recommendation soon.
A resolution was approved by Commissioners to authorize an update to the Ohio Department of Youth Services Subsidy Grant Juvenile Court Funding Application for grant year 2027.
The funding term runs from July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2027. With no further business, the meeting adjourned at 10:52 a.m.
