US Route 33-Lancaster Bypass
Lancaster, OhioEMH&T prepared plans for the third and fourth segments of the Lancaster Bypass (US 33). The bypass consists of a new four-lane limited access freeway around the western and southern limits of the City of Lancaster. The completed Bypass allows drivers to travel between Columbus and Southeastern Ohio on a freeway, instead of on the former US Route 33, which turned into an urban thoroughfare lined with commercial properties with 16 traffic lights through the City of Lancaster. Some estimates on drive time between Columbus and Athens, Ohio, are that the Bypass cuts the time by 30 minutes. Both segments included challenging terrain, rock cuts approaching 80 feet in depth and construction of roadway embankments of up to 80-feet deep. The project includes grade separations at SR 793 and Ross Road, and an interchange with Tarklin Road/US Route 33. The entire interchange with Horns Mill Road lies within a floodplain, requiring intense coordination with the Federal Emergency Management Agency. EMH&T’s experienced Environmental Sciences Division provided swift information and comprehensive permitting data to garner FEMA’ approval through a Letter of Map Revision (LOMR) for the project in a timely manner to ensure the project stayed on time and within budget. Construction began in March of 2003 and Governor Bob Taft cut the ribbon at the opening of the completed Bypass on October 25, 2005. The contracted amount for Segments 3 and 4 amounted to a total of $31,086,564 for design, right-of-way and construction. The American Council of Engineering Companies of Ohio (ACEC-Ohio) awarded EMH&T an Outstanding Achievement Award for this project.
SERVICES PROVIDED ON THIS PROJECT
- Transportation & Traffic Engineering
- Environmental Sciences
- Storm & Floodwater Management
