The Long Squeeze Begins On U.S. 23

Drivers using U.S. 23 north of Delaware will encounter reduced capacity on one of the county’s busiest corridors for the next several months. Beginning Monday, August 10, spot pavement repairs will be done on U.S. 23 between Hills-Miller Road and State Route 229. ODOT’s posted restrictions indicate that both northbound and southbound U.S. 23 will be restricted to a single lane between 7:00 PM and 3:00 PM.

It should be noted that each single lane restriction will last for 20 hours per day. The remaining time available to travel in the reduced lanes will be from 3:00 PM to 7:00 PM. As per the posted advisory, these restrictions are scheduled to be in effect for around five years.

While the advisory states U.S. 23 will be “down to one lane,” the restrictions will not result in a single travel lane for opposing directions. ODOT will maintain one northbound and one southbound travel lane through the restricted work zone.

From Delaware Toward Waldo

The affected stretch begins at Hills-Miller Road on the north side of Delaware and continues to the State Route 229 interchange south of Waldo. That takes the work zone past Delaware State Park and the Troutman Road area, placing it directly along the route used by travelers moving between Delaware and Marion, as well as visitors heading to the park.

ODOT has not posted a detour because U.S. 23 will remain open. Drivers should instead expect merging traffic, slower travel and possible backups as two lanes narrow to one in each direction. The morning commute and early afternoon period will fall entirely within the restricted hours. The lane reduction will also remain in place throughout the night.

A Wider Repair Project

ODOT identifies the work as Project 110703, a priority pavement-repair project. The agency’s project page describes the full project area as extending from Hills-Miller Road to the Marion County line, slightly beyond the northern end of the currently announced lane restrictions. For now, the long-term traffic advisory identifies State Route 229 as the northern boundary of the daily lane reduction. Drivers should watch future construction updates in case the work zone shifts farther north as repairs advance.

The work involves spot pavement repairs rather than a complete reconstruction of U.S. 23. A transportation project overview released in 2025 placed the estimated cost at approximately $2.1 million.

More Construction At State Route 229

Drivers turning east from U.S. 23 at the northern end of the work zone may encounter another active project. State Route 229 between U.S. 23 and Ashley is undergoing resurfacing, with various daytime lane restrictions scheduled from 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM through fall. That project also includes pedestrian improvements within Ashley, according to ODOT’s project description .

The overlapping schedules mean motorists traveling between Delaware, Ashley and northern Delaware County could encounter restricted lanes on both highways during much of the day.

A Busy Road With Less Room

The extended lane reduction comes along a corridor already known for congestion. ODOT has said the 23-mile section of U.S. 23 between Worthington and Waldo carries approximately 30 percent more traffic than it was designed to accommodate. That existing pressure can produce unpredictable travel times even without construction. Removing one lane in each direction for most of the day leaves considerably less room to absorb rush-hour traffic, crashes or disabled vehicles.

Drivers can check live speeds, construction conditions and incidents through OHGO , ODOT’s real-time traffic service. The OHGO mobile app also allows travelers to save a route and receive notifications when conditions change.

The Long Squeeze Begins On U.S. 23

Comments