The Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) District 1 is recognizing groups who have participated in the Adopt-A-Highway program for 25 years or more with service awards signed by ODOT Director Jack Marchbanks and ODOT District 1 Deputy Director Chris Hughes.
Wyandot County businesses and civic groups were recognized at the ODOT Wyandot County maintenance garage for their years of service in the program. Since the early 90s, the following groups have each maintained a two-mile stretch of highway within Wyandot County:
• In 1991, Upper Sandusky Lions Club adopted U.S. 23 near county Highway 330/Wyandot Avenue.
• In 1992, County Environmental of Wyandot adopted state Route 199 between county Highway 42 and county Highway 29.
• In 1992, Senate Lodge F. & A.M. #378, Forest Masons adopted state Route 53 on the east side of Forest, extending from Hardin County into Wyandot County.
• In 1993, Lawrence Insurance Agency adopted state Route 199 on the southern corporation limits of Upper Sandusky.
“The long-standing dedication of these Adopt-A-Highway groups demonstrates a passionate commitment for maintaining the beauty of their state,” said Governor Mike DeWine. “The Adopt-A-Highway program provides an opportunity for anyone to help keep Ohio’s roadways clean and litter-free.”
The Adopt-A-Highway program began during the summer of 1989 and went statewide in March of 1990. Since then, thousands of groups across the state have helped to keep Ohio beautiful. Over the last 10 years, the program averages a savings of $240,000 per year for taxpayers.
Across District 1, county administrators are delivering certificates to a handful of unwavering groups that have been maintaining stretches of highway since the early years of the program. District 1 encompasses Allen, Defiance, Hancock, Hardin, Paulding, Putnam, Van Wert and Wyandot counties.
“We encourage individuals and groups to consider picking up a section of road,” said Hughes. “The Adopt-A-Highway program provides groups a way to give back to their communities and saves ODOT money in litter cleanup costs that can be reinvested elsewhere.”
Adopting a highway is free to groups and individuals, but groups should complete four litter pickup sessions per year to remain in active status. ODOT provides vests, grabber tools, trash bags, and trash disposal during litter pickup sessions.
In 2018, 103 active groups with approximately 1,450 volunteers picked up over 400 bags of trash from along more than 200 miles of highway in District 1.
ODOT maintenance crews, Adopt-A-Highway groups, and inmates from the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction (ODRC) pick up over 400,000 bags of litter each year. Statewide, ODOT spends approximately $4 million on average each year on litter cleanup.
For more information on Adopt-A-Highway, contact Eric Pfenning, ODOT District 1 roadway services engineer, at 419-999-6893 or eric.pfenning@dot.ohio.gov.
