I-670 Upgrade Opens Gahanna as Columbus's Fastest-Growing Suburb

Gahanna issued 148 residential building permits in the second quarter of 2026, the highest quarterly total since 2019, after the June 15 opening of the I-670 interchange at Hamilton Road.

The permits reflect a shift in buyer demand toward suburbs with direct highway links to downtown Columbus offices and the Rickenbacker logistics zone, where vacancy rates for industrial space dropped below 4 percent last month.

Construction crews completed the final ramp connections at the interchange on June 12, cutting average drive times from Gahanna neighborhoods to the Short North by eight minutes during peak hours. Local planners at the Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission credit the project with unlocking 120 acres of previously landlocked parcels east of Hamilton Road.

New connections reshape daily routes

Residents now reach the Creekside Gahanna mixed-use district without crossing the old at-grade rail line that previously caused frequent delays. The same interchange feeds traffic onto the expanded two-lane bridge over the Rocky Fork Creek, finished in April, which also serves the Gahanna branch of the Columbus Metropolitan Library.

Franklin County records show 37 single-family homes sold along Mill Street and Granville Street in May and June at a median price of $412,000. That figure sits 14 percent above the same two-month period in 2025, according to data released July 3 by the Columbus Realtors Association.

Buyers weigh timing and costs

Local real estate agents report multiple offers on lots within 500 feet of the new interchange within the first 10 days of listing. Buyers should check current flood-plain maps updated by the city in May before submitting contracts, since some parcels near the creek required elevation adjustments during permitting.

Prospective owners can review the full list of approved projects on the city of Gahanna website or contact the planning department at 614-342-4010 for the next public hearing on August 12.

This article is general information only and is not personal financial or investment advice. Consider your own circumstances and seek licensed professional advice before making financial decisions.