The Ohio Turnpike (officially the James W. Shocknessy Ohio Turnpike) is a 241.26 mi (388.27 km)-long, limited-access toll highway in the U.S. state of Ohio, serving as a primary corridor to Chicago and Pittsburgh. The road runs east-west in the northern section of the state, from the Indiana Toll Road (at the Indiana-Ohio border near Montpelier) to the Pennsylvania Turnpike (at the Ohio-Pennsylvania border near Petersburg).
Built from 1949 to 1955, construction for the roadway was completed a year prior to the Interstate Highway System. The modern Ohio Turnpike is signed as three interstate numbers: I-76, I-80, and I-90.
The road is owned and maintained by the Ohio Turnpike Commission, headquartered in Berea.

History
The Ohio Turnpike has had service plazas since its inception. Service plazas differ from typical freeway rest areas in that they offer amenities such as 24-hour food and fuel service, which means motorists do not have to pay the toll to exit, then re-enter when they have to re-fuel or stop to eat.
Beginning in 1998, The Ohio Turnpike Commission began modernizing its service plazas, first demolishing the original plazas and then reconstructing them from the ground-up. In addition to modern restrooms, the new plazas offer several fast food choices, which vary between the plazas. They also include ATMs, gift shops, travel information counters, Wi-Fi internet access, and facilities for truck drivers, including shower facilities, lounge, and laundry areas. A fueling station is provided at each plaza. Facilities for overnight RV campers are provided at the service plazas located at mile markers 76, 139, and 197.

Service Plazas
Since the turnpike opened, the Ohio Turnpike Commission has contracted with the Ohio State Highway Patrol (District 10) to provide law enforcement, as well as assistance to disabled or stranded motorists. The Patrol is the only law enforcement agency with jurisdiction on the turnpike. It monitors Citizen's Band channel 9 for distress calls.

Law enforcement
In September 2004, the speed limit for heavy trucks was raised to 65 mph (105 km/h), creating a uniform speed limit for all traffic. For years, trucks had avoided the turnpike due to large toll increases in the 1990s, and because they could travel for free at the same speed on parallel highways such as State Route 2 and US 20. Truck traffic clogged the downtown shopping areas of US 20 towns such as Bellevue, Clyde, and Fremont, essentially driving away customers who didn't want to deal with the truck traffic; shopkeepers begged the state for relief for years.
Eventually, after prodding by Governor Bob Taft, the Ohio Turnpike Commission lowered truck tolls and implemented the uniform 65-mph speed limit on September 8, 2004. Truck traffic levels on the turnpike are estimated to be 20% higher since the change was made. The turnpike's 65-mph truck speed limit is unique in Ohio, as a 55-mph statutory speed limit applies to trucks on every other highway in the state.

Proposed leasing
Tolls are based upon the distance traveled, as well as the type and weight of vehicle driven. As of January 2007, the toll for a typical non-commercial passenger vehicle to travel the entire turnpike is $10.25. The system is expected to be fully functional by 2009.

Exit list

Interstate 76 in Ohio
Interstate 80 in Ohio
Interstate 90 in Ohio