PICKAWAY COUNTY, Ohio — In a direct response to a high volume of severe, high-speed traffic accidents, state and local officials have officially converted the intersection of State Route 752 and Walnut Creek Pike into an all-way stop.
According to Lt. Shad Caplinger of the Circleville Post of the Ohio State Highway Patrol, along with Pickaway County Sheriff Matthew O. Hafey, the dangerous rural crossroads has consistently ranked among the top five worst intersections for serious crashes in the entire area.
Historically, the right-of-way belonged strictly to traffic traveling east and west on SR-752, with stop signs only posted for drivers traveling north and south on Walnut Creek Pike. Local law enforcement noted that this layout frequently resulted in devastating, high-speed “T-bone” collisions when drivers crossing or turning from Walnut Creek Pike misjudged cross-traffic or completely failed to yield.
“We are seeing people from the area who have been driving this roadway for 30-40 years, not paying attention to the new traffic signal to stop at the intersection, even though there is plenty of warning signs, people simply get into a zone. We want to raise more awareness since this has been such a dangerous intersection for years,” said Sheriff Hafey, “This is just to try to make everyone safer.”
The Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) implemented the four-way stop as an immediate interim safety measure to slow down traffic and force visibility. The all-way stop configuration will manage the intersection while transportation planners continue long-term designs for a permanent roundabout at the location, which is tentatively slated for construction in 2029.
“We are in the prevention business,” said Lt Chad Caplinger, “We don’t want to see more tragedy, we want everyone to get where they are going and protect people.”
Motorists are being strongly urged to exercise extreme caution when approaching the intersection, as drivers adjusting to the new traffic pattern may not expect to stop on State Route 752. Overhead warning signage and advanced rumble strips have been deployed to alert drivers of the critical safety upgrade.
