Re: Road Trip Report: KY-OH
- From: David Norris <dnorris@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Sun, 14 Aug 2005 20:29:25 -0400
On Sun, 14 Aug 2005 18:20:42 -0400, "Pete Jenior" <gtg377a@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
>
>"H.B. Elkins" <hbelkins@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message >
>> The common section of US 52/62/68 was in terrible shape. Rough pavement
>> and many
>> slides.
>>
>> There's no stoplight at the intersection in Ripley where US 62/68 leaves
>> US 52.
>> From that intersection, the route is four lanes to Red Oak where the two
>> routes
>> split. Past that, US 68 is an improved two-lane route and in many cases,
>> right
>> of way is cleared for a possible expansion to four lanes. The quality of
>> the
>> road deteriorates a bit past Georgetown but it's still a decent ride
>> through Mt.
>> Orab, where there are only a couple of traffic lights before you get to OH
>> 32.
>
>South of Georgetown, there is an Old US 68 that is fairly far away from the
>current alignment (62 and 68 were not always multiplexed). The current 68
>south of Georgetown is certainly a good road although it dates back to
>probably the 60s.
>
>Most of the development around the US 68/SR 32 interchange had occured in
>the last 5 years or so. It's a good thing that an exit was built there and
>not an at-grade intersection.
>>
>> Several very oddly-shaped US 68 shields between US 62 and OH 32.
>>
>> OH 32 carried light traffic, but pavement is not too great in places.
>
>...and the traffic probably got lighter as you went further east, right?
>Sometimes it can actually be pretty busy until central Adams County.
>
>As for the pavement, it has gotten a lot worse recently.
>
Most of our pavement will get worse before we will get more money to repave.
>Shortly
>> after I got on the route, a car with Boyd County KY license plates passed
>> me and
>> I followed it all the way to the US 23 exit. So apparently there are a few
>> drivers who don't like using the AA Highway in Kentucky as the route
>> between
>> Ashland and Cincinnati.
>
>The fastest way between Cincinnati and Portsmouth that is entirely in Ohio
>is actually SR 32 to SR 73 to US 23. Then again, if they are not using the
>AA maybe they don't like two lane roads or something.
>
>>
>> Traffic lights have been installed at most of the intersections with state
>> routes, major exceptions being OH 73, OH 772 and OH 124.
>
>Almost all of those lights were not there 5 or so years ago
>
>Between Seaman and
>> Peebles, there is a noticeable change in the terrain, as it goes from
>> flat-to-rolling to hilly, reminiscent of Kentucky's Knobs area.
>
>This is my favorite part of 32 and breaks up an otherwise boring drive on a
>road I've been on many times. I've seen maps that show different
>topographic and geological areas, and they show the Knobs of Kentucky
>extending up into this area.
>
>The change
>> occurs in the area where OH 32 drops into a valley and crosses the stream
>> identified in Rand McNally as "Ohio Brush Creek" but on the sign at the
>> bridge
>> as "Scioto Brush Creek." The speed limit was 60 mph but I didn't exceed it
>> by
>> much, although several other drivers did.
>
>There is both an Ohio Brush Creek and a Scioto Brush Creek. I know exactly
>what spot of 32 you are talking about (between Seman and Peebles, right?).
>I just looked in a DeLorme and it is indeed Ohio Brush Creek that crosses
>there. The only thing that confuses me is that it has always been labeled
>as "Ohio Brush Creek" along the road. Maybe the sign has been changed since
>I was last there????
>>
>> US 23 is obviously a much older highway and the 55 mph speed limit
>> reflects
>> that. It was quite congested through Waverly, where the road still goes
>> through
>> downtown.
>
>As I've said before, it's a shame that Ohio doesn't want to build I-73
>because it is the only state where it is needed!
>>
>> In Waverly, US 23 and OH 104 are multiplexed. OH 335 begins out of nowhere
>> at
>> the spot where OH 220 crosses, and OH 335 turns off US 23/OH 104 a few
>> blocks
>> north. This seems to be an arbitrary place for the route to begin/end. Why
>> not
>> just terminate it at the US 23 intersection? I think there may have been
>> an "End
>> OH 335" assembly at the OH 220 intersection on southbound 23, but I'm not
>> sure.
>>
>> Some rather complex interchanges along the Chillicothe bypass. I don't
>> think
>> there is direct access from NB US 23 to EB US 35 (use US 50) or from SB 23
>> to WB
>> 35 (use Business 23).
>
>The routings are kind of confusing too. Basically 23 and 35 are on
>expressways and 50 goes through town, although I think a US 50 bypass is in
>the works. Anyone following along know more about this?
Not exacting. There used to be, but not anymore. The County engineer built a 2-lane limited access road from US 50 West of Chillicothe North & East
towards US 35, ending on CR 550. We are trying to get approval to add a partial interchange onto US 35 from CR 550. This would, in essence, be a
bypass around Chillicothe.
>>
>> I-71, except for portions with recent resurfacing, was in horrible shape.
>> I did
>> note a sign with the mileage to I-275 (71, I think) and Louisville (200).
>
>Yes, 71 miles.
>>
>> Most of the BGSes along I-71 have small blue tags that give the exact
>> milepoint
>> location of the sign. This is unusual and is something I haven't seen
>> before.
>>
>> The route has been three-laned in the Jeffersonville area, and the OH 41
>> overpass is closed for reconstruction.
>>
>> The US 35 exit has been much-discussed. There is no notation of old US 35
>> carrying a state route number. New US 35 passes over I-71 just north of
>> the
>> exit, which carries I-71 over old US 35. This is a heavily commercialized
>> area
>> and signs point travelers to East 35 and West 35, on the old road. If you
>> are
>> heading east on old 35, you can only enter new 35 going east; there is no
>> WB
>> access.
>
>The same is true in the other direction, I think. An unusual setup but I
>would think it works well there.
>>
>> Wesbound drivers on US 35 see BGSes with shields for "To I-71" and OH 729,
>> with
>> text "Old US 35."
>>
>> The interchange between US 35 and US 22, US 62 and OH 3 at Washington
>> Courthouse
>> is interesting. At this spot, US 22/OH 3 and US 62 run nearly parallel to
>> each
>> other. Two-lane access routes have been built parallel to both lanes of US
>> 35.
>> Traffic exits onto these C-D routes and can turn toward either US 22/OH 3,
>> which
>> passes under US 35, or US 62, which crosses US 35. Traffic also enters US
>> 35
>> from these C-D roads.
>>
>> US 62 is a pleasant drive southwest, although it's quite congested in
>> Hillsboro.
>> Much of it has been improved. South of OH 32, the route quality and width
>> deteriorates quickly, but it's still a pleasant drive through flat to
>> rolling
>> farmland before it meets US 68.
>
>The downtown part of Hillsboro was redone within the last few years (new
>sidewalks, stoplights, etc.). I'm not sure about the parts away from
>downtown; I've never been on them.
>>
>> Did I mention no traffic light at the US 52/62/68 intersection in Ripley?
>> This
>> makes trying to get out onto US 52 quite difficult with heavy traffic.
>
>It does seem odd that there is no stoplight there, although I've never seen
>much of a backup when I've driven by on 52.
>
>-Pete
>
--
Dave Norris
Lucasville, OH
.
- References:
- Road Trip Report: KY-OH
- From: H . B . Elkins
- Re: Road Trip Report: KY-OH
- From: Pete Jenior
- Road Trip Report: KY-OH
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