US 68 in Ohio

According to Bittranslators, US 68 is a US Highway in the US state of Ohio. The road forms a north-south route through the west of the state, from the Kentucky border at Maysville through Springfield to Findlay on Interstate 75. US 68 is not of major passing interest. The road is 300 kilometers long.

Travel directions

US62/68 at Ripley.

Southern Ohio

US 68 in Kentucky comes from Lexington and crosses the Ohio River at Maysville via the William H. Harsha Bridge. US 68 is then double numbered with US 52 and US 62. The road heads west through the Ohio River valley to Ripley, then turns north for US 62 and US 68 to split. US 68 then follows a 60-mile route north to Xenia. This section is single-lane, with the hills of southern Ohio gradually giving way to meadows. Near Wilmington there is a connection to Interstate 71, followed by a connection to US 35 at Xenia. The US 68 then passes through the center of Xenia.

Western Ohio

After Xenia, US 68 heads 15 miles north to Interstate 70 at Springfield. This section is single carriageway and runs just east of Dayton. The Springfield bypass is designed as a freeway, but after Springfield the road narrows again to a single carriageway. US 68 then continues north through the meadows of western Ohio for 75 miles. This section is a single carriageway that passes through all towns on the route. At Bellefontaine there is a connection to US 33, after which US 68 ends at Findlay on US 23 and Interstate 75.

History

US 68 was created in 1926, but then ran no more north than Maysville, Kentucky. In 1933, the western Ohio route was extended north to Toledo, only to be shortened again to Findlay in 1957 when I-75 was completed. The rest of US 68 is somewhat less through-going, although the road has long straights and a small freeway around Springfield.

Ohio River

In 1931, the Simon Kenton Memorial Bridge over the Ohio River opened to traffic. This suspension bridge was the first between Maysville, Kentucky and Aberdeen, Ohio. In 2000, an alternate bridge, the William H. Harsha Bridge, opened slightly to the west, eliminating traffic through Maysville. Both are considered part of US 62.

Ripley – Springfield

There is dual numbering of US 52, US 62 and US 68 between Aberdeen and Ripley. Originally, US 62 and US 68 split into two separate routes to the north, but later US 68 was routed over US 62 between Ripley and Redoak. This part was constructed in the late 1960s as a new 2×2 divided highway. Elsewhere, US 68 between Redoak and Springfield is a two-lane road, with the portion between Redoak and Georgetown running on a more modern route.

Springfield – Findlay

A 10-mile west bypass has been constructed as a freeway around Springfield. This bypass opened in two phases, opening the section between I-70 and US 40 circa 1970-1971 and opening the extension north of Springfield circa 1972.

The rest of the route up to Findlay is a two lane road, with long straight sections. Bypasses are missing around all places.

Anthony Wayne Bridge

The Anthony Wayne Bridge is a suspension bridge in the United States, located in Toledo, Ohio.

Characteristics

The Anthony Wayne Bridge spans the Maumee River in downtown Toledo. The suspension bridge has a total length of 1,071 meters and a main span of 382 meters. Over the bridge is State Route 2 in Ohio with 2×2 lanes. However, the bridge is not a freeway. The bridge is toll-free.

History

Opened in 1931, the bridge was the first modern bridge over the Maumee River in Toledo still in use today. Later, its through importance was diminished by the construction of Interstate 75 in Ohio and Interstate 280 in Ohio, which also spanned the Maumee.

Traffic intensities

There are no known traffic volumes from the Anthony Wayne Bridge.

Blenner Hassett Island Bridge

The Blennerhassett Island Bridge is an arch bridge in the United States, located on the border of the states of Ohio and West Virginia. The bridge spans the Ohio River near Parkersburg.

Characteristics

The Blennerhassett Island Bridge is a steel arch bridge. The bridge is 1,222 meters long and spans the Ohio River, which splits around Blennerhassett Island. The main bridge is an arch bridge with a span of 268 meters on the north side of Blennerhassett Island, where the north branch of the Ohio River forms the border between the states of Ohio and West Virginia. The bridge is 33 meters wide, with 2×3 lanes without emergency lanes. On the north side of the arch bridge, the bridge narrows to 2×2 lanes with emergency lanes. Crossing the bridge is US 50 which forms the western bypass of Parkersburg, West Virginia in situ. The bridge is wholly owned by the state of West Virginia.

History

Originally, through traffic went right through Parkersburg over the Parkersburg-Belpre Bridge, a 1980s four -lane cantilever truss bridge, which in turn replaced a 1916 suspension bridge. It was desirable to build a bypass at Parkersburg, which also required a new bridge. This bypass is part of Corridor D of the Appalachian Development Highway System (ADHS). The bridge was the first at this location and was constructed between 2006 and 2008. The bridge opened to traffic on June 13, 2008 and cost $120 million.