SCIOTO COUNTY, Ohio — Scioto County Sheriff David Thoroughman and Portsmouth Police Chief Debby Brewer have issued a notice advising residents of anticipated traffic delays in the near future. These delays are due to the planned movement of super and mega-sized loads through the county and city, with a total of 35 movements scheduled to begin sometime in March.
The route for these oversized loads will commence from Manchester, traveling eastbound on U.S. 52 to West Portsmouth. Upon reaching West Portsmouth, the movement will halt for the night and resume the following morning, proceeding westbound in the eastbound lanes of U.S. 52 into the city of Portsmouth.
Once inside the city, the load will transition to northbound travel in the southbound lanes of U.S. 23, near Bob & Floyds Tires, before shifting into the northbound lanes of U.S. 23. The journey will continue along U.S. 23 until reaching the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) garage near Lucasville, where the load will park overnight. The following morning, the movement will resume northbound on U.S. 23 towards Columbus.
To mitigate the impact on traffic and ensure emergency response needs are met, the Sheriff’s Office, Portsmouth Police Department, Scioto County Emergency Management Agency (EMA), Ohio State Highway Patrol, and ODOT are collaborating closely. Despite coordinated efforts to minimize delays, some disruptions are inevitable.
Information regarding the dates of these movements will be disseminated once start dates are confirmed. The Ohio State Highway Patrol will provide escort services for the super and mega loads to ensure safe passage along the designated route.
Residents are advised to plan their travel accordingly and stay informed about potential traffic disruptions during the scheduled movements of these oversized loads.