The Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) is taking proactive steps to address anticipated traffic impacts of a $1.5 billion expansion of Ford’s Ohio Assembly Plant in Avon Lake and Sheffield. This significant investment in electric vehicle production is expected to increase traffic in the area from employees, trucks, and other planned developments in the area, prompting the need for a comprehensive traffic planning study. ODOT partnered with Wade Trim to evaluate the transportation system surrounding the plant and identify infrastructure improvements to support mobility, safety, and operational efficiency.

The study focuses on major corridors that serve the region’s transportation demands: Colorado Avenue (SR-611) and the I-90 freeway interchange, Detroit Road (SR-254) and the I-90 interchange, Abbe Road (SR-301), Miller Road, Chester Road and Lake Road (US-6). To pinpoint problem areas, traffic data including counts and crash data were collected throughout the area, modeled and analyzed. Stakeholder and public meetings conducted from December 2024 through July 2025 yielded feedback that supported the primary needs of safety and mobility including speeds, congestion, and access management, as well as secondary needs of economic development and improved active and multimodal transportation.

Near-term and long-term recommendations at key intersections and interchanges were presented in a public meeting in July 2025 based on traffic data and community input. Recommendations include signal upgrades, timing adjustments, and additions, such as pedestrian signals, shared-use paths, new lane markings, roundabouts; a Median U-Turn configuration on Detroit Road at Abbe Road; and a Diverging Diamond Interchange at Colorado Avenue and I-90. These improvements aim to enhance traffic flow, while improving efficiency and safety.