The City of Worthington and partner entities City of Columbus, Perry Township, the Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission (MORPC), and the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) have been working toward a shared goal of improving the State Route 161 (SR 161) corridor between Olentangy River Road and Sawmill Road, to reduce congestion, improve safety, and provide bikeway/pedestrian accommodations.
Working with partner agencies, ODOT administered a comprehensive evaluation of the corridor to develop a strategy for improvements that are constructible and manageable from a funding perspective. The 2018 Feasibility Study outlines recommendations and next steps. Project partners continue to review potential construction projects and strategize about funding sources to improve the corridor.
Previously, the Cities of Worthington and Columbus and Perry Township contracted with MORPC to conduct a traffic study of the corridor between Olentangy River Road and Sawmill Road. The study, completed in 2014, shows in order to improve traffic congestion along the corridor, the intersections of SR 161 at Linworth Road and Olentangy River Road must be improved. In addition, the railroad crossing west of Linworth Road must be addressed. For more information view the MORPC 161 Traffic Study.