ICYMI: Congressman Taylor Introduces Resolution Supporting New Interstate Spanning Southern Ohio

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Dave Taylor (OH-02) last week introduced H.Res. 608, supporting a study on the development of an Interstate 73 (I-73) corridor spanning southern Ohio and recognizing the significant economic benefits it could bring to local businesses. The proposed interstate would largely follow State Highway 23, running south from Toledo, through Columbus, and down to the Kentucky/West Virginia border, promoting connectivity, safety, and economic growth throughout Ohio’s southern region. 

“With a leading defense technology company building an advanced manufacturing facility near Columbus and a growing uranium enrichment site in Piketon, business in southern Ohio is booming, and it’s about time we have the infrastructure needed to support it. Workers need a reliable thoroughfare to commute to work, and our growing industries rely on a central road to transport goods. An I-73 corridor would also finally give small Appalachian businesses a chance to connect with the modern economy, reinvigorating local main streets and giving businesses the tools to succeed that are long overdue,” said Congressman Dave Taylor.

Specifically, this resolution:

• Recognizes the importance of the Interstate Highway System;
• Recognizes the economic boost and increased national security that an interstate could provide to the region; and
• Supports the planning, designing, and development of an interstate in southern Ohio heading south from Columbus.

The full text of the resolution is available here.

On July 16th, 2025, Congressman Taylor spoke with Department of Transportation Secretary Duffy in a House Transportation and Infrastructure hearing about southern Ohio’s need for an I-73 corridor. Historically, urban areas have been prioritized over rural regions to receive federal dollars for critical infrastructure projects, leaving communities like those in southern Ohio without sufficient resources to fund infrastructure that would support the growth of their local economy.

In the hearing, Congressman Taylor stated, “An interstate through southern Ohio would not just help connect rural communities to the modern economy but would enhance our national security because of multiple key facilities and defense-related companies along the route.”

He continued, asking Secretary Duffy, “How can the Department of Transportation assist states such as Ohio in planning and constructing major infrastructure projects like this future interstate to spur the continued growth of our nation, especially in historically underserved areas like mine?”

Secretary Duffy responded, “That’s a really good point. It’s our request for information and data, and your state’s willingness to give that data, to make sure we can see the priority of serving your community. And I would agree with you, we have too many communities that don’t have adequate infrastructure, and most of them are oftentimes rural. I’d be happy to have an additional conversation on that project with you.”

Background:

In January of 2022, the Ohio State Legislature passed a resolution authorizing a study on the potential development of an Interstate 73 (I-73) corridor running from Toledo, Ohio, to Chesapeake, Ohio, primarily along U.S. Route 23. This study was meant to assess the impacts of a potential interstate on each surrounding county and to gather comprehensive data with which future investment decisions could be made.

In 2025, a Strategic Transportation Development Analysis was released by the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) outlining the projected economic development, transportation systems, and travel needs of the state for the coming decades. Included in this study was an evaluation of U.S. 23 running from Toledo to Columbus and from Columbus to the Kentucky/West Virginia border, this route being one of Ohio’s priority corridors.

As a result of this study, ODOT issued a recommendation for a feasibility analysis to be conducted on the development of the U.S. 23 from I-270 to just south of Circleville, Ohio. The feasibility study on a potential I-73 corridor will analyze a similar area to the one studied by ODOT’s Development Analysis, gathering additional data to inform a future decision on the development of an I-73 corridor. The feasibility study would include a capacity analysis, access management, environmental and community impact assessments, economic impact analysis, cost-benefit analysis, and preliminary design concepts. This study is expected to be completed by December 2026. More information about this study is available here.

The resolution introduced by Congressman Taylor last week supports a study on the potential development of this I-73 corridor to promote connectivity, safety, and economic growth throughout Ohio’s southern region.