CHILLICOTHE – Drivers should prepare for new traffic changes as work on the $14.4 million Chillicothe Bypass rehabilitation project enters its next phase this week.
Beginning Friday, September 5, the northbound entrance and exit ramps at East Main Street will close for approximately 45 days. The closure will allow crews to repair the right lane of U.S. 23/35 and work on the bridges over East Main Street and the Scioto River.
During the closure, motorists needing to access northbound U.S. 23 or westbound U.S. 35 can follow a posted detour by entering southbound U.S. 23, exiting at Eastern Avenue, and re-entering northbound U.S. 23. Officials estimate the detour will add about five minutes of travel time.
For drivers heading northbound on U.S. 23 or westbound on U.S. 35 who wish to exit at East Main Street, the detour will continue north to the SR 159 exit before looping back southbound to East Main Street.
Once work on the northbound lanes is finished, crews will shift to the southbound side of the bypass. That stage will include a similar 45-day closure of the southbound ramps, with an estimated detour time of less than 10 minutes.
The project, awarded to Shelly and Sands, is expected to be complete in 2026.
