As we enter the last week of 2019, we at I Build America – Ohio are looking forward to all that 2020 holds for the construction industry. The entire upcoming decade is expected to be one of the busiest Ohio has seen for some time. In fact, we’re forecasted to see a major construction boom statewide, proving that now is the best time to start a career in construction. Our crews will be:
Improving our highways
Statewide Highway Systems
We depend on our highways to move people and products across the state. They fuel progress unlike anything else. Throughout the state, more than 43,000 lane miles and 14,000 bridges will be worked on with skilled maintenance work, including:
- Widening of Interstate 77 and interchange improvements at Interstate 277 and Route 224 are planned in Summit County.
- Interstate 475 will see a new interchange with Route 20A in Lucas County.
- Widening of Interstate 75 between Paddock and Kemper is planned in Hamilton County.
- Interstate 71 from Stringtown Road to Interstate 70 will be resurfaced and improved in Central Ohio.
Of course, this doesn’t cover every improvement for every road. Visit OHGO to stay in-the-know before you hit the road.
Transforming our community centers
The West End Stadium in Cincinnati
Stadiums are a central part of any Ohio community, from our smallest towns to the biggest cities. We midwesterners love the tradition of coming together to cheer for a common cause. The City of Cincinnati will soon be cheering at a brand new stadium for their Major League Soccer Team.
Last April, FC Cincinnati and the City of Cincinnati finalized plans to begin the construction of one of the largest Major League Soccer stadiums in the world with a total seating capacity of up to 26,500 people.
Our construction crews will help bring the state-of-the-art design to life, which includes a full canopy roof, advanced lighting technology, and medical facilities.
Construction on the West End Stadium will begin in 2020. Not only will it unite the city around its best soccer athletes, the West End Stadium will be bringing in some of the best athletes in the world to Ohio. They will host both CONCACAF and FIFA events, and potentially the United 2026 World Cup.
The stadium is set to open in March 2021 with costs reaching an estimated $250 million.
See all the upcoming projects around the Cincinnati Area on the Business Courier’s Crane Watch.
Creating our hospitals
ProMedica Generations Care Tower in Toledo
Our hospitals are there for us when we need it most. From emergencies to specialist appointments to general wellness visits, they are critical to every community.
In February 2017, OCP began construction on the ProMedica Generations Care Tower. This hospital is no ordinary care facility. In fact, it’s the largest construction project that ProMedica has ever taken on – standing 275 feet tall with 13 stories and more than 600,000 square feet. Named after the generations the hospital will serve in the future, OCP hopes to complete the project by May 2020.
Their dedicated crews have met some pretty incredible milestones. According to OCP:
- Over 20,000 man days have been worked, 3,600 of which for clean-up alone.
- 330,000 linear feet of framing track have been installed.
- 227,000 square feet of acoustical ceilings have been installed.
- Just over 1 million linear feet of varying studs have been installed.
- 101 skilled laborers were working on the jobsite at peak construction.
Stay up-to-date on all Toledo-area projects on the Ohio Department of Transportation’s website.
It’s not too late to be a part of this progress. Make the 2020’s your time to shine in the construction industry. Check out apprenticeship options near you to begin your journey.
Now that’s our kind of resolution.
