COLUMBUS, Ohio — Ohio Governor Mike DeWine and Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) Director Pamela Boratyn announced on July 2, 2025, a $137.5 million investment in 55 traffic safety projects across 41 Ohio counties, including a $2.2 million project to realign U.S. 23 and Tarlton Road in Pickaway County. The funding, part of Ohio’s Highway Safety Improvement Program, underscores the state’s commitment to reducing traffic fatalities and injuries, with Ohio investing more per capita in roadway safety than any other state.
The Pickaway County project, scheduled for 2029, aims to enhance safety at the U.S. 23 and Tarlton Road intersection through realignment, addressing critical safety concerns such as roadway departure crashes, which account for roughly half of Ohio’s annual traffic deaths. “Ensuring the safety of Ohio’s roadways is always one of our top priorities,” said Governor DeWine. “Whether you’re driving or walking, we want every Ohioan to get where they’re going safely.”
Statewide, the initiative includes 22 projects focused on pedestrian safety, such as new sidewalks, shared-use paths, and crosswalk improvements, responding to the 125 pedestrian deaths in Ohio last year and 50 so far in 2025. Five projects, including Pickaway’s, target roadway departure crashes by widening shoulders or realigning curves. Other funded projects include roundabouts, road diets, and enhanced crossings across counties like Butler, Clermont, Fairfield, and Franklin.
The announcement highlights Ohio’s proactive approach to addressing traffic safety challenges, with Pickaway County among those benefiting from these critical infrastructure improvements.
