ODOT seeking volunteers to adopt roads

Ohio Dept. of Transportation information

COLUMBUS — Each year, the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) is forced to spend $4 million on litter pickup — a persistent and preventable problem.

“Not only is litter expensive, but it takes us away from more important roadwork,” said ODOT Director Jerry Wray.

Statewide last year, ODOT spent $4 million picking up 42,572 bags of trash. That money could be used to purchase 28 new snowplow trucks, pave a 28-mile two-lane road, or install 160 culverts.

Fortunately, ODOT does get aid from local volunteers, including its more than 1,400 Adopt-A-Highway groups.

ODOT’s Adopt-A-Highway groups – at least one in each of Ohio’s 88 counties — clean a two-mile section, or interchange, a minimum of four times a year for two years. Last year, Adopt-A-Highway volunteers pick up 20,000 bags of trash, saving ODOT $130,000.

ODOT also pays for guards from state prisons and county jails to monitor inmates working to pick up litter.

Groups wanting to adopt a section of highway or an interchange can apply at: http://www.dot.state.oh.us/Divisions/Operations/Maintenance/Pages/AdoptAHighway.aspx.