The Ohio Turnpike and Infrastructure Commission approved a capital improvement budget Jan. 13, totaling $246.8 million. The commission’s 2026 budget will help maintain and modernize the turnpike used by millions of drivers every year, according to state officials.
The budget is funded by four primary sources. State tolls, known as the System Projects Fund, make up $213 million. The Renewal and Replacement Fund draws another $17.9 million, with the Fuel Tax Fund bringing in $13 million and the Service Plaza Capital Improvement Fund adding $2.9 million.
A total of $230.5 million has been earmarked for an early list of capital improvement projects. The remaining $16.3 million will be used for any potential needs that come up throughout the year.
The budget will fund several infrastructure projects across the 241-mile roadway. Pavement replacement and resurfacing will cover more than 114 lane miles. Bridge work is also a priority, with 12 bridges set to receive new decks and two full bridge replacements planned.
The commission will launch two major technology initiatives, including an Intelligent Transportation System (ITS) and an Advanced Traffic Management System (ATMS), expected to be completed in 2027. The project will include dynamic message signs, variable speed limits, video monitoring and a roadway weather information system.
According to officials, the system will use sensors and cameras to provide real-time data on traffic, weather and pavement conditions to help drivers make safer decisions.
The Ohio Turnpike, officially known as the James W. Shocknessy Ohio Turnpike, celebrated its 70th anniversary last year. The 241-mile toll road runs across northern Ohio, connecting the Indiana Toll Road at the western border to the Pennsylvania Turnpike at the eastern border and serving as a primary corridor between Chicago and Pittsburgh.
The turnpike is owned and maintained by the Ohio Turnpike and Infrastructure Commission, headquartered in Berea. The resolution was adopted at the commission’s Dec. 15, 2025, meeting. A detailed breakdown of 2026 construction projects by county is expected in late March, ahead of the spring construction season.
Photo by daveynin from United States, CC BY 2.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0, from Wikimedia Commons
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