CHILLICOTHE, Ohio — The ongoing major construction project on Bridge Street will shut down all southbound lanes on Sunday, March 29, forcing drivers to navigate a complex web of detours for access to shopping centers, medical facilities, and major highways.
What’s happening
The Ohio Department of Transportation’s Bridge Street Safety Improvement project will close all southbound lanes between Stewart Road and North Plaza Boulevard, as well as between North Plaza Boulevard and the SR 104/High Street on-ramp to eastbound U.S. 35, according to Safety Service Director Jeff Carman. The only southbound access that will remain open is the ramp to westbound U.S. 35.
Who’s affected
The closures will disrupt travel to and from some of Chillicothe’s busiest destinations, including the Chillicothe Mall area — home to Lowe’s, JCPenney, and Sam’s Club — as well as River Trace, Shawnee Square, Adena Regional Medical Center, and the VA Medical Center. Drivers coming from Jackson, Waverly, and southern Ross County will also need to adjust their routes.
Detour highlights
ODOT has laid out nine traffic scenarios depending on a driver’s origin and destination. In general, motorists heading to the east side of Chillicothe from the mall area will need to go north on Bridge Street to U.S. 23 south and exit at East Main Street. Those heading to the west side will be diverted to westbound U.S. 35 and can exit at SR 104/High Street. Northbound traffic from downtown to the mall will not be affected.
Commercial vehicles traveling from the Kenworth area to U.S. 35 west have two alternate routes, both of which funnel through SR 159, SR 207, and SR 104.
What drivers should know
ODOT is urging motorists to exercise extreme caution in work zones throughout the duration of the project. Full detour maps, additional travel scenarios, and a frequently asked questions page are available on ODOT’s project page at transportation.ohio.gov/bridgestreet.
Residents with questions can contact the ODOT District 9 Public Information Office at 740-774-8834 or by email at [email protected].
DETOUR SCENARIOS FROM ODOT:
Detour Routes
Scenario 1 – From Chillicothe Mall (Lowes, JCPenney, Sam’s Club, etc.) east and west
a.) To the east side of Chillicothe: Go north on Bridge Street to U.S. 23. Take U.S. 23 south and exit at East Main Street.
b.) To the west side of Chillicothe: Go south on North Bridge Street. You’ll be diverted to
westbound U.S. 35. Exit at SR 104/High Street and turn left.
c.) To River Trace/Shawnee Square: Go north on Bridge Street and enter southbound U.S. 23. Take U.S. 23 south to the East Main Street exit and turn right. Travel west on East Main Street to Bridge Street and turn right. Continue north on Bridge Street to Stewart Road/Consumer Center Drive.Scenario 2 – From downtown Chillicothe to Chillicothe Mall: Go north on North Bridge Street as normal.
Scenario 3 – From SR 104 (Chillicothe Correctional, Ross Correctional, VA Medical Center, Gateway Interchange Industrial Park) to North Bridge Street/U.S. 35 east: Go north on SR 104, east on SR 207, and south on U.S. 23.
Scenario 3 – From Adena Regional Medical Center to U.S. 35 west: Go north on Hospital Road or SR 159 to SR 207. Go west to SR 104 and south to U.S. 35 west.
Scenario 4 – From Kenworth to U.S. 35 West via U.S. 23 (commercial vehicles alternative):
a.) Go south on SR 159 to U.S. 23 north to SR 207. Turn left and go west to SR 104 and south to U.S. 35 west.
b.) Go north on SR 159 to the roundabout and to west SR 207 to SR 104 to U.S. 35 west.Scenario 5 – From Jackson/Waverly/southern Ross County to River Trace/Shawnee Square:
a.) Go north on U.S. 23/west on U.S. 35 and exit at E. Main Street. Turn left onto E. Main
Street and continue west to S. Bridge Street. Turn right on S. Bridge Street and continue north.b.) Go north on U.S. 23/west on U.S. 35 and exit at Eastern Avenue (U.S. 50). Turn left onto Eastern Avenue (U.S. 50) and continue west to S. Bridge Street. Turn right on S. Bridge Street and continue north.
Scenario 6 – From Jackson/Waverly/southern Ross County to Chillicothe Mall: Go north on U.S. 23/west on U.S. 35 and exit at Bridge Street as normal.
