GROVE CITY, Ohio – The Central Ohio Transit Authority (COTA) and its LinkUS partners including the Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission (MORPC), Franklin County Board of Commissioners, The City of Columbus, The Columbus Partnership and project sponsor, the City of Grove City, broke ground this morning on the Hoover Road pedestrian bridge reconfiguration located in the growing Central Ohio suburb.
LinkUS is Central Ohio’s comprehensive transportation and development plan where safe sidewalks, fast and reliable transit, protected bike lanes, and expanded trails all come together. Thanks to community support and voters, LinkUS is officially moving from plans to pavement, connecting communities, and creating opportunities for everyone.
“LinkUS is delivering on its promise to our voters and transforming how we think about mobility and community access,” said Monica Téllez-Fowler, COTA President/CEO. “This project demonstrates that our mission extends far beyond bus routes; it is about modernizing our mobility system. Today, is just the beginning of a multi-decade journey to build a more accessible and connected region.”
In March 2025, the COTA Board of Trustees approved funding for 83 transit-supportive infrastructure (TSI) projects over the next five years that will help create the first 150 miles of sidewalks, bikeways and trails throughout COTA’s service area. These projects are designed to improve access to services while making it safer to walk and bike in our communities.
During the ceremony today, COTA and MORPC presented a check for $2.2 million to help fund the Hoover Road Pedestrian Bridge reconfiguration project which serves as a vital connection across Interstate 71. For several residents, this bridge provides a critical link between neighborhoods, schools, parks, churches, businesses and other community destinations.
The project will transform the west side of the bridge with a wider shared-use path for walkers, runners, and cyclists by repurposing the existing center turn lane. Improvements extend from Orders Road to the Holton Road/North Meadows Drive intersection. This new design also enhances mobility and access for all users – whether they’re going to work or out for recreation – while creating a safer experience and maintaining traffic flow throughout the corridor.
“This groundbreaking is the first of many milestones to come for communities across the region,” said William Murdock, Executive Director of MORPC. “With LinkUS, voters asked our community to grow better as we get bigger — and transportation investment is at the core of that vision. That means real improvements to how we all get around: expanded transit and the sidewalks and trails that connect people to transit, to work, to school, and to the places that matter to them. This project is proof that the promise is being kept.”
The long-range initiative will invest in more than 500 miles of sidewalks, bikeways, and trails across its service area by 2050, systematically modernizing and expanding Central Ohio’s transportation infrastructure to handle rapid population influx.
The construction of the Hoover Road Pedestrian Bridge serves as the initial footprint of this multi-decade framework, bringing localized safety and accessibility enhancements to a vital commuter corridor.
“Every Franklin County neighbor deserves safe, dignified access to the places that matter most in daily life, a job, a school, a place to worship, a doctor’s office,” said County Commissioner Erica C. Crawley. “When voters approved the sales tax expansion, they made that belief a promise. Today, we’re delivering on it. This bridge will finally connect families on both sides of I-71 to their own community, safely and with the dignity they deserve. And with more than 500 miles of sidewalks, bikeways, and trails planned across Central Ohio, this is just the beginning.”
This milestone in Grove City represents the very first groundbreaking ceremony for the initial 83 projects with 2026 – 2030 funding commitments supported by the county sales tax expansion, approved by Franklin County voters under Issue 47. Part of COTA’s sales tax is dedicated to expanding sidewalks, bikeways, and trails throughout the region.
“The City of Grove City is excited to partner with COTA, MORPC, the City of Columbus, Franklin County, and the Columbus Partnership to begin construction of the Hoover Road Pedestrian Bridge, and proud to be the first LinkUS TSI Project,” said Richard L. “Ike” Stage, Mayor of the City of Grove City. “The funding provided for this development is an important investment in connectivity, safety, and quality of life for our residents. We look forward to making the City’s shared-use pathways more accessible to our schools, neighborhoods, and parks.”
The Hoover Road Pedestrian Bridge represents a lasting connection between people and places, contributing to the overall quality of life. As construction progresses, vehicular traffic will be maintained southbound on Hoover Road, while northbound traffic will detour east onto Holton Road, north on Buckeye Parkway and west on White Road. Two-way traffic will be restored in the fall, as the school year begins. The project is expected to be completed by the end of 2026.
For comprehensive project updates, design parameters, and future infrastructure deployment schedules across Franklin County, click here.
