WASHINGTON, D.C. — Congressman Dave Taylor (OH-02) has introduced a new resolution to support the planning and development of a proposed Interstate 73 (I-73) corridor that would span southern Ohio, citing economic growth, national security, and long-overdue infrastructure needs for the Appalachian region.
House Resolution 608, introduced last week, urges a feasibility study of the I-73 route, which would primarily follow U.S. Route 23 from Toledo, through Columbus, and down to the Kentucky/West Virginia border. The resolution recognizes the importance of the interstate system and advocates for equitable infrastructure investment in rural regions like southern Ohio.
“With a leading defense technology company near Columbus and a growing uranium enrichment site in Piketon, business in southern Ohio is booming,” said Rep. Taylor. “Workers need a reliable thoroughfare, and our industries need a central road to transport goods. An I-73 corridor would connect our small towns to the modern economy.”
Taylor discussed the proposal in a recent U.S. House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee hearing, where he pressed U.S. Transportation Secretary Duffy on how the federal government can assist states like Ohio in constructing major rural infrastructure projects.
“That’s a really good point,” Secretary Duffy responded. “We have too many communities without adequate infrastructure, most of them rural. I’d be happy to continue this conversation.”
The I-73 proposal has its roots in a 2022 resolution passed by the Ohio State Legislature, which called for a formal study of a potential corridor. That effort was followed by a 2025 Strategic Transportation Development Analysis from the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT), which highlighted the U.S. 23 route as one of the state’s “priority corridors.”
A feasibility study currently underway will evaluate capacity, access, environmental impact, economic potential, and costs. That analysis is expected to be completed by December 2026 and will help determine the viability of the I-73 project.
Congressman Taylor’s resolution highlights the anticipated benefits of the project:
- Improved connectivity for rural and Appalachian communities
- Enhanced national security through improved access to defense-related facilities
- Boosted economic growth and local development opportunities
If constructed, the proposed I-73 would fill a long-standing infrastructure gap in southern Ohio, offering safer roads, more efficient freight routes, and a direct link between growing industries and global markets.
About Congressman Taylor:
David Taylor represents Ohio’s Second Congressional District, including Ross, Pickaway, Pike, Scioto, Highland, Vinton, Jackson, Gallia, Meigs, and other counties. A former assistant prosecutor and president of his family’s concrete company, Taylor serves on the House Transportation & Infrastructure and Agriculture Committees. Learn more at taylor.house.gov.
