Major General James G. Blunt

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Interstate 70 (I-70) in the US state of Ohio provides access between Indiana and West Virginia. I-70 is a major highway for traffic within, to, from, and through Ohio. The highway is a core roadway of the Columbus metropolitan area and is of additional importance in the Dayton metropolitan area.

Route description

Along its path through Ohio, I-70 passes through the following counties: Preble, Montgomery, Clark, Madison, Franklin, Fairfield, Licking, Muskingum, Guernsey, and Belmont. As an Interstate Highway, by default, I-70 is a part of the National Highway System, a network of highways deemed most important for the country's economy, mobility, and defense.[2]

View of I-70 looking east from a pedestrian bridge in Columbus

The portion of I-70 between I-675 and Enon Road in Clark County is designated as the "Deputy Suzanne Hopper Memorial Highway",[3] in honor of a Clark County Sheriff's deputy who was shot and killed on January 1, 2011, while responding to reports of gunshots at a mobile home park on Enon Road, near I-70.[4]

The portion of I-70 between milemarkers 51 and 53 in Clark County is designated as the "Trooper Charles V. Vogel, Jr. Memorial Highway",[5] in honor of a trooper with the Springfield post of the Ohio State Highway Patrol who was struck and killed by a vehicle on January 24, 1980, while investigating a crash at the junction of I-70 and U.S. Route 68 (US 68; which is located along the designated stretch of highway).[6]

Western Ohio

I-70's first exit within Ohio is in New Westerville, just south of New Paris. The exit is only accessible eastbound, and traffic going on to I-70 using the exit-only enters westbound lanes. I-70 goes on to pass Gettysburg before making two exits near Lewisburg, one at a junction with US 127 and another near downtown Lewisburg. I-70 also makes an exit in Brookville and runs concurrent with State Route 49 (SH 49) for just under 1.5 miles (2.4 km) before SH 49 continues to the southeast.

At this point, I-70 comes its closest to Dayton and primarily serves rural suburbs. Within the northern Dayton section of I-70, a separate series of ramps serves traffic to Dayton International Airport before entering a major intersection with I-75 just south of Vandalia. From there, I-70 continues to serve northern Dayton suburbs and also junctions the SH 4 expressway, which runs concurrent with I-70 between Wright-Patterson Air Force Base and Enon, and I-675, a bypass route of Downtown Dayton.

After another interchange with US 68, I-70 passes south of Springfield and serves three exits, the easternmost of which serves as one of the many junctions I-70 has with the National Road (today known as US 40).

Central Ohio

I-70 is a major freeway within the Columbus metropolitan area, serving as the primary east–west route. After brief exits just outside the towns of Summerford and West Jefferson, I-70 reaches the southern part of Hilliard, where I-70 makes its first junction with I-270, a ring road around the Columbus area primarily serving its suburbs. Between the I-270 interchanges on I-70, hazmats are prohibited. I-70 continues toward Downtown Columbus and, upon entering Valleyview, reaches I-670, a highway serving north-central Columbus as well as both Easton Town Center and John Glenn Columbus International Airport. I-70 itself continues south and meets up with I-71 and SH 315 in a major interchange to the east of Franklinton. For just over 1.5 miles (2.4 km), I-71 and I-70 run concurrently in south Downtown Columbus before I-70 separates and continues west for about nine miles (14 km) before reaching I-270's eastern interchange with I-70, but not before serving three exits in the Bexley area and an interchange with US 33. Throughout the rest of the route in central Ohio, I-70 serves state routes and rural towns like Kirkersville and Buckeye Lake.

I-70 is also the only major expressway within the Zanesville area and bisects the central business district and serves the area with exits to both the central business district and Zanesville Municipal Airport. Once I-70 passes outside of Zanesville, the road connects with Norwich and New Concord, the latter of which also includes Muskingum University and the John and Annie Glenn Museum.

Eastern Ohio

Running roughly parallel with both US 22 and US 40, I-70 passes through Georgetown to serve Cambridge, which is also where I-70 interchanges with I-77. Between the I-77 interchange and St. Clairsville, I-70 is a rural highway with few exits serving small towns along its path.

In St. Clairsville, I-70 connects with the Ohio Valley Mall and is less than 10 miles (16 km) from Wheeling, West Virginia. Eastbound traffic can either continue on I-70 toward Wheeling's central business district or use I-470 as a bypass of Wheeling. I-70 itself serves a few more exits in Wheeling's western area before crossing the Fort Henry Bridge and the state line into downtown Wheeling.

History

I-70 appeared on the original American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) interstate route numbering map from August 14, 1957. It was envisioned as a modern upgrade of the old National Road (US 40), the main east–west route through the heart of the state, built closely parallel to, but on a separate alignment from, the then overburdened and obsolete highway. The 21-mile (34 km) section between Kirkersville and Gratiot (current exits 122–142) was the first new construction opened to traffic in 1959. At that time, the highway was accessed at both ends via temporary at-grade intersections with the old National Pike, with I-70 and US 40 sharing the same carriageways.

The northern end of SR 158 that once served as a connecting road between I-70 and US 40 with westbound grading and Interstate-style bridge

Once the road was extended westward toward Columbus by 1968, access was routed to exit 122, with the western one-mile (1.6 km) access road continuing US 40 back to the old National Pike becoming part of SR 158 (though the westbound lanes were abandoned), with SH 158's old alignment north of the access road being turned over to Licking County. The following year, the highway was opened eastward to Zanesville, with a new interchange, exit 142, at Gratiot. The at-grade intersection with the old National Pike was subsequently blocked off, to be erased by years of overgrowth. The US 40 designation was returned to the Pike around the same time, replacing the temporary SR 440 designation.

In February 2013, an 11.18-mile (17.99 km) segment of I-70 traveling through Franklin, Fairfield, and Licking counties was named by the National Asphalt Pavement Association as the winner of the 2012 Sheldon G. Hayes Award for the best asphalt pavement in the country.[7][8]

Exit list

CountyLocationmi[9]kmExitDestinationsNotes
PrebleJefferson Township0.000.00

I-70 west / US 35 north – Indianapolis
Continuation into Indiana
1.832.951
US 35 east – Eaton
Eastern end of US 35 concurrency; eastbound exit and westbound entrance
Monroe Township9.9115.9510 US 127 – Greenville, Eaton
Harrison Township14.6623.5914 SR 503 – West Alexandria, Lewisburg
MontgomeryBrookville21.0133.8121Arlington Road – Brookville
Clay Township23.71–
24.05
38.16–
38.70
24
SR 49 north – Phillipsburg, Greenville
Western end of SR 49 concurrency; eastbound access to SR 49 via Brookville Salem Pike
ClaytonEnglewood line25.88–
26.26
41.65–
42.26
26
SR 49 south – Clayton, Trotwood

Hoke Road to SR 49 – Trotwood
Eastbound signage; eastern end of SR 49 concurrency
Westbound signage
Englewood28.9746.6229 SR 48 – Englewood, Clayton
Butler Township32.0851.6332
To US 40 – Vandalia, Dayton International Airport
33.72–
33.97
54.27–
54.67
33 I-75 – Dayton, ToledoSigned as exits 33A (south) and 33B (north) eastbound; I-75 north exit 61; south exits 61A-B
Huber Heights36.6759.0136 SR 202 – Huber Heights
38.6462.1938 SR 201 – Huber Heights
MontgomeryClark
county line
41.0065.9841
SR 4 south / SR 235 – Fairborn, New Carlisle
Western end of SR 4 concurrency
ClarkMad River Township44.3371.3444
I-675 south / Spangler Road – Cincinnati
I-675 exits 26A-B; northern terminus of I-675; signed as exits 44A (I-675 south) and 44B (Spangler Road) on collector-distributor lanes
47.2976.1147 SR 4 – Enon, SpringfieldEastern end of SR 4 concurrency; Eastbound exit and westbound entrance
47.7976.9148Enon, DonnelsvilleWestbound exit and eastbound entrance
Mad RiverSpringfield
township line
52.2384.0652 US 68 – Xenia, UrbanaSigned as exits 52A (south) and 52B (north)
Springfield54.4787.6654 SR 72 – Springfield
59.3695.5359 SR 41 – South Charleston
Harmony Township62.0299.8162 US 40 – Springfield
South Vienna66.33106.7566 SR 54 – Catawba, South Vienna
MadisonSomerford Township72.36116.4572 SR 56 – Mechanicsburg, London
Deer Creek Township79.10127.3079 US 42 – Plain City, London
Jefferson Township80.76129.9780 SR 29 – West Jefferson
85.39137.4285 SR 142 (Plain City–Georgesville Road) – West Jefferson, Plain City
FranklinColumbus91.30146.9391Hilliard-Rome RoadSigned as exits 91A (south) and 91B (north) westbound
92.82–
92.94
149.38–
149.57
93 I-270 – Cincinnati, ClevelandSigned as exits 93A (south) and 93B (north) eastbound; I-270 exit 8
93.98151.2594Wilson Road
94.97152.8495Hague AvenueWestbound exit and eastbound entrance
96.15154.7496
I-670 east – Airport
Eastbound exit and westbound entrance
97.25156.5197 US 40 (W. Broad Street)
97.82–
98.02
157.43–
157.75
98A US 62 (Central Avenue) / SR 3 / Sullivant AvenueWestbound exit and eastbound entrance
98.27158.1598BMound StreetWestbound exit and eastbound entrance
98.86–
99.44
159.10–
160.03
99CRich Street / Town Street ( US 62 / SR 3)Access via SR 315; westbound exit only; SR 315 exit 1A
99

I-71 south / SR 315 north – Cincinnati
Western end of I-71 concurrency; signed as exits 99A (south) and 99B (north); I-71 exit 106A
US 23 (Third Street / Fourth Street) / Fulton StreetNew interchange to replace exits 100A-B; to have no westbound exit
99.99160.92100A
US 23 south (High Street) / Front Street
Eastbound exit and westbound entrance
100.23–
100.33
161.30–
161.47
100B
US 23 north / US 33 (3rd & 4th Streets) / Livingston Avenue
No westbound exit
100.91–
101.28
162.40–
162.99
101BParsons AvenueEastbound exit only
101A

I-71 north to I-670 – Cleveland
Eastern end of I-71 concurrency; I-71 exit 107; access to John Glenn Columbus International Airport
101BDowntownWestbound exit and eastbound entrance; eastbound exit was signed for 18th Street, closed in 2020
102.10–
102.21
164.31–
164.49
102Miller Avenue / Kelton Avenue
103.04165.83103AMain Street — BexleyEastbound exit and westbound entrance; indirect access via Alum Creek Drive
103.403–
103.513
166.411–
166.588
103B US 33 (Livingston Avenue) / Alum Creek DriveAlum Creek Drive signed eastbound only, US 33 signed westbound only
104.603–
105.613
168.342–
169.968
105 US 33 / James Road – Lancaster, BexleySigned as exits 105A (south) and 105B (north)
107.163–
107.633
172.462–
173.219
107 SR 317 (Hamilton Road) – WhitehallSigned as exits 107A (south) and 107B (north) eastbound
108.393–
109.213
174.442–
175.761
108 I-270 – Cincinnati, ClevelandSigned as exits 108A (south) and 108B (north) westbound; I-270 exits 43A-B.
109.823–
110.183
176.743–
177.322
110Brice Road — ReynoldsburgSigned as exits 110A (south) and 110B (north) eastbound
FairfieldPickerington112.023–
112.403
180.284–
180.895
112 SR 256 – Pickerington, ReynoldsburgSigned as exits 112A (south) and 112B (north) eastbound, exit 112 westbound
Violet Township112.923181.732112C SR 204 (Blacklick–Eastern Road)Eastbound exit only
LickingEtna Township118.053–
118.373
189.988–
190.503
118 SR 310 – Etna, Pataskala
Kirkersville122.373–
122.753
196.940–
197.552
122 SR 158 – Kirkersville, Baltimore
Union Township125.893–
126.913
202.605–
204.247
126 SR 37 – Granville, Lancaster
128.683–
129.263
207.095–
208.029
129 SR 79 – Buckeye Lake, Newark
Licking Township132.643–
132.973
213.468–
213.999
132 SR 13 – Newark, Thornville
Bowling Green Township140.763–
140.903
226.536–
226.761
141 SR 668 – Brownsville, GratiotEastbound exit and westbound entrance
MuskingumHopewell Township142.883–
143.198
229.948–
230.455
142
To US 40 – Gratiot
Westbound exit and eastbound entrance
Falls Township152.168–
152.820
244.891–
245.940
152 US 40 (National Road) – Zanesville
Zanesville153.359246.807153A

SR 60 north / SR 146 west (State Street)
Signed as exit 153 eastbound
154.203–
154.416
248.166–
248.508
153BMaple AvenueWestbound exit and eastbound entrance
154.528–
154.643
248.689–
248.874
154Fifth StreetEastbound exit only
154.661–
154.703
248.903–
248.970
155


SR 60 south (Seventh Street) / SR 146 east / SR 666 north
Washington Township156.921–
157.446
252.540–
253.385
157 SR 93 – Adamsville, Zanesville
Perry Township160.391–
160.977
258.124–
259.067
160Airport Road / Sonora RoadAccess to Zanesville Municipal Airport
163.905–
164.548
263.780–
264.814
164 US 22 / US 40 – Norwich
New Concord169.585–
170.135
272.921–
273.806
169 SR 83 – Cumberland, New Concord
GuernseyCambridge Township175.903–
176.377
283.088–
283.851
176 US 22 / US 40 (SR 723) – Cambridge
178.390–
178.970
287.091–
288.024
178 SR 209 – Cambridge, Byesville
179.654–
180.474
289.125–
290.445
180 I-77 – Marietta, ClevelandSigned as exits 180A (south) and 180B (north); I-77 exits 44A-B
Wills Township186.347–
187.020
299.896–
300.980
186
US 40 west / SR 285 – Old Washington, Senecaville
Western end of US 40 concurrency
Oxford Township193.053–
193.713
310.689–
311.751
193 SR 513 – Quaker City
GuernseyBelmont
county line
Fairview198.385–
198.887
319.270–
320.078
198CR 114 – Fairview
BelmontKirkwood Township202.357–
202.737
325.662–
326.274
202 SR 800 – Dennison, Barnesville
KirkwoodUnion
township line
204.537–
204.747
329.170–
329.508
204 US 40 (National Road) / CR 100Eastern end of US 40 concurrency; eastbound exit and westbound entrance
Union Township208.057–
208.427
334.835–
335.431
208 SR 149 – Belmont, Morristown
Richland Township212.707–
212.897
342.319–
342.625
213 US 40 / SR 331
215.027–
215.457
346.052–
346.744
215 US 40 – St. Clairsville
216.667–
216.967
348.692–
349.175
216 SR 9 – St. Clairsville
218.367–
218.827
351.428–
352.168
218Mall Road / Banfield Road
219.607–
219.957
353.423–
353.986
219 I-470 – Bellaire, Washington PAEastbound exit and westbound entrance
219.937–
220.427
353.954–
354.743
220 US 40 (National Road) / CR 214
Bridgeport225.117–
225.357
362.291–
362.677
225


To US 250 west / SR 7 – Bridgeport
Ohio River225.587363.047OhioWest Virginia line


I-70 east / US 250 south – Wheeling
Continuation into West Virginia
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi

Auxiliary routes

Interstate City Type Notes
Interstate 270 Columbus Loop
Interstate 470 Wheeling Bypass Route extends into West Virginia
Interstate 670 Columbus Bypass

Interstate 70 Alternate

Interstate 70 Alternate (I-70 Alt.) is an alternate route for I-70, bypassing several exits on I-70. It is 22 miles (35 km) in length, following the Dayton International Airport Connector, US 40, and US 68.[citation needed]

See also

References

KML is from Wikidata
  1. ^ "Route Log- Main Routes of the Eisenhower National System of Interstate and Defense Highways - Table 1". Federal Highway Administration. Retrieved October 4, 2014.
  2. ^ National Highway System: Ohio (PDF) (Map). Federal Highway Administration. December 2003. Retrieved January 24, 2011.
  3. ^ "5533.648 Deputy Suzanne Hopper Memorial Highway". Ohio Revised Code. LAW Writer. March 22, 2013. Retrieved August 25, 2013.
  4. ^ Heffner, Jessica (August 23, 2013). "Slain Clark deputy memorialized". Springfield News-Sun. Retrieved August 25, 2013.
  5. ^ "Section 5533.679 Trooper Charles V. Vogel, Jr. Memorial Highway". Ohio Revised Code. Ohio Legislative Service Commission. March 23, 2015. Retrieved May 2, 2021.
  6. ^ "Part of I-70 in Clark Co. may honor slain trooper". Dayton Daily News. November 12, 2014. Retrieved May 2, 2021.
  7. ^ "The Shelly Co. Wins NAPA's Sheldon G. Hayes Award". ForConstructionPros.com. February 13, 2013. Retrieved February 18, 2013.
  8. ^ National Asphalt Pavement Association. "Sheldon G. Hayes Award Through the Years". Retrieved February 13, 2013.
  9. ^ Ohio Department of Transportation. "Technical Services DESTAPE". Retrieved May 19, 2014.


Interstate 70
Previous state:
Indiana
Ohio Next state:
West Virginia