WEST JEFFERSON, Ohio — Orange barrels, narrow lanes and bumper-to-bumper traffic have become a familiar sight along Interstate 70 west of Columbus between West Jefferson and Hilliard Rome Road. That construction has also led to an uptick in vehicle crashes.

Since construction began in May on the six-mile stretch between West Jefferson and Hilliard Rome Road, the Ohio State Highway Patrol has responded to 22 crashes. During the same period last year, that number was only eight, according to Lt. Merrill Thompson with the Patrol’s West Jefferson post.

Those numbers do not include the crashes that were responded to and handled by Franklin and Madison County deputies.

“The cause of these crashes vary,” Lt. Thompson said. “We do have nine that were commercial related, one that was OVI relate

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