The Portsmouth Bypass is a proposed four-lane limited-access

Limited-access road

A limited-access road known by various terms worldwide, including limited-access highway, dual-carriageway and expressway, is a highway or arterial road for high-speed traffic which has many or most characteristics of a controlled-access highway , including limited or no access to adjacent...

 divided highway rerouting through traffic around the cities of Portsmouth

Portsmouth, Ohio

Portsmouth is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Scioto County. The municipality is located on the northern banks of the Ohio River and east of the Scioto River in Southern Ohio. The population was 20,226 at the 2010 census.-Foundation:...

 and New Boston

New Boston, Ohio

New Boston is a village in Scioto County, Ohio, United States, along the Ohio River. The population was 2,340 at the 2000 census. Apart from its southern boundary on the Ohio River, New Boston is entirely surrounded by the city of Portsmouth. It was platted on February 17, 1891, by James Skelton,...

 in Scioto County

Scioto County, Ohio

As of the census of 2000, there were 79,195 people, 30,871 households, and 21,362 families residing in the county. The population density was 129 people per square mile . There were 34,054 housing units at an average density of 56 per square mile...

, Ohio

Ohio

Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...

, United States

United States

The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...

. In addition to providing better mobility within the local area for residents, the bypass has the potential to increase the economic development of the local area. Final design plans are currently undergoing development; construction is scheduled to begin in 2011 after property acquisition is completed which began in 2006.

History

The proposal for a bypass began in the 1960s as the city of Portsmouth was growing at a rapid rate creating backups on numerous city streets along with the width of trucks trying to turn from U.S. 23 to U.S. 52 and the other way around. It wasn't until the 1990s when the lines were drawn for proposing a bypass. After three proposed routes, the hill alignment was chosen after ODOT conducted numerous studies concerning impact to the environment and local area.

Routing & Signing

The 16-mile (26 km) long freeway will bypass the cities of Portsmouth and New Boston by connecting U.S. Route 23 north of Lucasville

Lucasville, Ohio

Lucasville is a census-designated place in Scioto County, Ohio, United States. The population was 1,588 at the 2000 census. The village of Lucasville was laid out by Captain John Lucas in June 1819 and recorded August 7, 1819. Captain Lucas built the first tavern in the village and kept it until...

 to U.S. Route 52 east of New Boston and west of Wheelersburg

Wheelersburg, Ohio

Wheelersburg is a census-designated place in Scioto County, Ohio, United States. It was founded in 1820 and was originally known as Concord. It lies along the northern banks of the Ohio River in Southern Ohio. Wheelersburg is approximately 7 miles east of Portsmouth and 14 miles west of Ironton...

. The Portsmouth Bypass, when completed, will go through the communities of Minford

Minford, Ohio

Minford is a census-designated place located on the border of Harrison and Madison Townships in northeastern Scioto County, Ohio, United States, about 14 miles northeast of the county seat of Portsmouth.-History:...

, Lucasville

Lucasville, Ohio

Lucasville is a census-designated place in Scioto County, Ohio, United States. The population was 1,588 at the 2000 census. The village of Lucasville was laid out by Captain John Lucas in June 1819 and recorded August 7, 1819. Captain Lucas built the first tavern in the village and kept it until...

, Sciotoville

Sciotoville, Ohio

Sciotoville is a populated place in the city of Portsmouth in Scioto County, Ohio. It is located at the intersection of U.S. 52 and State Route 335 between the village of New Boston and Wheelersburg in Scioto County along the northern bank of the Ohio River...

, and Sciotodale

Sciotodale, Ohio

Sciotodale is a census-designated place in Scioto County, Ohio, United States. The population was 982 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Sciotodale is located at ....

 with five interchanges constructed in total (including endpoints). The locations of the interchanges are: U.S. Route 52 between New Boston and Wheelersburg, State Route 140 near the Portsmouth city limit, Airport Road adjacent to the Greater Portsmouth Regional Airport/Access to Ohio 335 just south of Minford, at Lucasville-Minford Road/ Future Ohio 728? County Route 28 near Rases Mountain Drive in Minford, and at U.S. 23 just north of Lucasville. The route will be signed as Ohio State Route 823 once completed.

Phases of Construction

The bypass will be constructed in three phases, pending funding. Phase 1 will connect Lucasville-Minford Road near Rases Mountain Drive to Airport Road (a newly relocated Shumway Hollow Road) adjacent to the Greater Portsmouth Regional Airport on State Route 335—this phase is scheduled to take approximately three years to complete. Phase 2 will continue the freeway from the Lucasville-Minford Road interchange to U.S. 23 just north of Lucasville. Phase 3 will continue the freeway from the Shumway Hollow Road/Airport Road interchange in Minford to U.S. 52 near Wheelersburg. The freeway will be open for traffic on completed sections as each phase is completed.