Road Construction

I am coming from Pontiac, Mi and i was wondering what the construction is like on the 80-90, 2, 4, and 6? anyone know? just wondering if there is a faster way there besides going I-75 to 80-90 to US 250. just wondering. hopefully you guys can tell me.

Thanks in advance!

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Besides the great rides and being the best of everything, the best part about Cedar Point is that it isn't Six Flags! YAY!

Stay FAR FAR FAR away from I-280. There is so much road construction on there its not funny. Most of the time on that road the speed limit is either 35 or 45 mph. As for for the other road I'm also sure I-75 will have some, that road always has construction. As for the other roads you mentioned I believe there are pretty good. I would take route 2. But if you have to take the Ohio Turnpike get off at the route 4 exit and not the 250 exit.

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Speed Freaks - 2003

12 days until I process in.

1) As coaster runner said, stay away from 280 this summer if at all possible.

2) Many people feel that taking Route 2 instead of the Turnpike is a faster/better trip. The only problem with this (for where you are coming from) is that it involves taking 280.

3) Taking turnpike exit 110 (Route 4) instead of exit 118 (Route 250) is going to save you some time. Not only is the toll booth at 250 still being renovated, but 250 is getting a lot of work too while being widened.

4) These ODOT pages are always helpful in keeping up to date with current construction projects:

http://www.dot.state.oh.us/dist2/construction.htm
http://www.ohioturnpike.org/weekly_update.html

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James Draeger
-Captain Sarcasm

The widening of Route 250 is complete. Four lanes from the turnpike to CP!
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--Seth

Yes, 280 looks as if it'll be a complete mess again for the probably 5th year in a row, if not more. I'm wondering if it will ever actually be finished! I will probably suck it up and continue to drive it as always, since rt. 2 is such a better drive than the Turnpike. (aside: Does anyone know an alternate way to 2?)

As James said, avoiding 250, with or without construction is always a good idea. If you're coming from the west (as you are) US 6 is always nice, as a "scenic" alternative.

Also, to elaborate on construction for those coming from Michigan, avoid US 23 at all costs. If you're anywhere where you can take I-75 (taking I-96 to I-275 from Grand Rapids / Lansing) it's a much better bet. Not 100% sure on how long the construction on 23 will last, but it was nasty last weekend!

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Jeff Tobe
tobejeff@pilot.msu.edu

The expected completion date for the 280 project is sometime in 2006. See this website for more information:

http://www.lookuptoledo.org/

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James Draeger
-Captain Sarcasm

There are other ways to get to Rt. 2, but none are as good at via 280. I was happy with the turnpike last summer. There was only one work area that streched for only about 5 miles, and it was gone by mid-summer.

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-Chris Woodard
"If you're standing in an uncomfortable position, that means you are in the right position because you are riding Mantis!" - Mantis ride op doing spiels on closing day.

It's cliche, but there are only two seasons in Ohio: Winter and Construction

Where on US-23 in MI is there construction??

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Scott W. Short
mailto:scott@midwestcoastercentral.com
http://www.midwestcoastercentral.com

I have always taken the Ohio Turnpike every year. Route 2 might not be a bad idea, but my main question is how difficult is it? I have never driven it before and I am just wondering if it's self explanatory to get to CP or if you need to make a couple turns on to certain roads that I wouldn't know about? Also, why is it faster than 280? I understand 280 is under construction, but lets say that it wasn't and everything was running good. Would Route 2 still be faster? Thanks

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and remember, if you can't be an athlete, be an athletic supporter

Scott-

According to the MDOT site, the workzone for US-23 stretches from the M-50 exit (#17) to the Ohio border.

Here is the actual page detailing the work

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James Draeger
-Captain Sarcasm
*** This post was edited by Draegs 4/15/2003 2:16:16 PM ***

Well last year i went to CP the lst two saturdays it was open and route 2 was either closed or detoured, so we went the easy way, 80-90 to 250 straight shot there. wasn't too much construction, but there was some. we actually made it in good time under three hours while taking our time getting there. Thanks for all the replies! yay! Now i can know what to expect on May 3rd, staying the night in a hotel for cheap.

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Besides the great rides and being the best of everything, the best part about Cedar Point is that it isn't Six Flags! YAY!

Route 2 construction is complete. I-280 has been under construction off and on for years...but by October last year the were just at the route 2 exit. We had to drive south an additional mile, get off 280, and back on going north.

I suspect that portion will be completed by now. I actually prefer Route 2. It's not confusing at all, a straight shot, and I generally tool along at a good clip. It's a two lane road for about 30 minutes, but then opens up to a freeway.

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I'd rather die living than live like I'm dead
http://www.webtechnik.com/ebony/CPLady.htm

Went to Cedar Point on Saturday.. Both 75 exits to 280 were blocked off... I ended up taking a scenic route up broadway... im not exactly sure how I got there, however.. The construction on US-23 wasn't horrible both south and northbound. It slowed down, sure, but it wasn't a big backup like I had expected. Its down to one lane each way. I went through there about 11 am on saturday morning and then again about 5 or so... The traffic seemed to flow anywhere between 50 and 65 mph... I'm thinking of taking 96 to 275 to 75 on opening day, but thats a lot more miles than good ol trusty 23 :)

Note: It appears the 280 ramps were just closed for 12 hours on Saturday.. but it was enough of a pain to irritate me. The small time spent on 280, though, isn't enough to justify paying tolls on the turnpike :P

Does anyone know nice of a road is US 6 from I 69? We have always taken I 69 and the turnpike, but it would be faster to cut across diagonally. I mean if I take US 6 and get stuck behind some semi am I going to have trouble with him or is it two-lanes?

That's pretty much my take on it bholcomb. According to the site, most complete closures of 280 will be on weekends, and I generally avoid CP on weekends anyway.

Most of the stops are listed between 9 am and 3 pm (we'll likely be tooling through at 7-7:30 am on weekdays.

It appears that getting to Route 2 (Navarre) from 280 is okay now that construction has moved a tad south.

Of course, we can always do the turnpike if need be. The website will come in very handy this year.

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I'd rather die living than live like I'm dead
http://www.webtechnik.com/ebony/CPLady.htm

forcedude04, if you are coming from fort wayne (or farther south on I69), it's shorter to take I469 to US24 to US6, and all are decent roads. No construction that I am aware of. I did go the I69 to US6 route once last summer. I think there was some construction around Waterloo, but that was last summer. 6 is a good road, even if it is 2 lanes. There is hardly any traffic. There are trucks on 24 though, lots of them, but they tend to be good about showing you when you can pass safely, and it's only a short leg. We normally take the turnpike to US20 (through Angola, cuts the corner) to I69 back though (it takes about 1/2 an hour longer) simply because two lane roads at 2 in the morning scare me.

--James
*** This post was edited by jdoty 4/28/2003 11:51:27 AM ***

But I don't want to use the turnpike!! :( I hate tolls.. LOL I'd rather not give Ohio much of my money if I can avoid it

I did look for alternates though.. 223 looked like it'd get me from I-75 to Navarre(Rte 2). Or if I went right over the river and got off on the first exit south of the river on I-75 and took that north, it runs right into navarre.. I think its 199a. Either way, without 280 you have to drive thru a no-so-good part of town.. It wasn't absolutely horrible, but I wouldn't want to break down there.

One other thing that irritated me.. I was taking pictures of every sign on the way to CP to make a webpage with pictured instructions.... but I couldn't make one for 280 or rte 2. So I guess I'll redo it with my digital camera on the way to CP next time, or something.
*** This post was edited by bholcomb 4/28/2003 3:56:44 PM ***

As mentioned 280 is horrible( I have come to a standstill before and it has been entirely closed.) Still, you can take 75 south all the way into Ohio, then head on west 475, it only takes like two-three minutes and then you will be on 23 south making your way to the turnpike.
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"Enjoy your day at America's Rockn' Rollercoast!"

Thanks jdoty! I am coming from Marion, IN so 24 would work great. Looking at the map I might even try taking 224 to 75 and then catch 6. Would you or anyone else happen to know of any problems with that route?

I'm not sure about I75. I remember it being a mess down closer to Dayton, but I'm not sure about that far north. Check http://www.dot.state.oh.us/, they have a good database of construction. Indiana has a similar one here: http://www.in.gov/dot/motoristinfo/roadconst/detoursn.html

Hopefully those sites help!

--James