An Ohio Department of Transportation and Ohio Turnpike and Infrastructure Commission study recommends building an 18-mile highway connector between U.S. 23 and Interstate 71, routing it around the village of Ashley in Delaware County. The project’s estimated cost ranges from $857 million to $1.2 billion. The proposed route would connect with U.S. 23 north of Waldo and I-71 south of State Route 521, with an interchange on U.S. 42 just north of Ashley. The study estimates the road would carry about 21,900 vehicles a day if it were not tolled, compared with 8,500 daily vehicles under a toll scenario. For drivers traveling between I-475 near Toledo and Columbus’ I-270 outerbelt, the study projects a travel-time reduction of six minutes under uncongested conditions and 22 minutes during the morning rush hour. Those estimates assume current conditions on U.S. 23 and an additional lane in each direction on I-71. The study was directed by the Ohio legislature, including through a provision in the state’s most recent transportation budget. ODOT and the turnpike commission worked on it for about a year, held two rounds of public meetings and collected more than 3,000 comments. ODOT Director Pamela Boratyn said the agencies considered both potential benefits and concerns raised about possible routes. The study’s completion does not authorize construction. State lawmakers will decide whether to provide funding, and no project timeline has been set. The cost estimate assumes construction would begin in 2035, leaving the proposed connector dependent on future budget decisions and public spending priorities.