Why is the Towne Street interchange proposed to be closed?
The closure of the partial interchange at Towne Street was recommended by the North South Transportation Initiative (NSTI) study completed by OKI and MVRPC in 2000. The NSTI final report stated that when plans for addressing the capacity of I-75 commence, the interchanges at the Norwood Lateral, Towne Street and Paddock Road should be evaluated further. It was a conclusion that due to the expansion of the interstate, it would be necessary to close the Towne Street ramps. The Mill Creek Expressway project is proposing the Towne interchange be closed due to the short distance between the Towne and Norwood Lateral ramps. The need to provide for a two lane ramp from westbound SR 562 (Norwood Lateral) to I-75 northbound causes the need to eliminate these ramps. ODOT does not wish to perpetuate this problem due to the congestion and safety problems all along I-75, not due to accidents on the ramps. Alternative routes of travel, if the ramps are eliminated include the Paddock/I-75 interchange
