Southern Ohio: SR 823 / Portsmouth Bypass

[hbelkins]

I'm wondering if there won't be a concerted effort to put through north-south US 23 traffic on the new bypass via the Carl D. Perkins bridge, since that corridor now has to use the streets of downtown Portsmouth.

via the Carl D. Perkins Bridge? Did you mean to say the Jesse Stuart (Greenup Dam) Bridge?

The Perkins Bridge isn't anywhere near the route through 23 traffic would take to get to/from the new bypass

Yes, I did. The Perkins Bridge is KY 8 Spur, although extending that route north of US 52 along OH 104 and then swinging back over to US 23 would make a nice bypass.

[GCrites]

In its current state? Or with what degree of upgrades?

Without going too far into Fictional.

[Hot Rod Hootenanny]

Looks like someone got a nice payoff with this route.  What purpose does this serve?

I-73 supporters in the Carolinas.

[Avalanchez71]

Greased palms on this one.

[hbelkins]

Greased palms on this one.

Yeah. Just like every other ADHS corridor. 

[vtk]

To those doubting the utility of this route, I offer some evidence to support it.

Apparently, there's already a noticeable amount of traffic attempting to bypass Portsmouth on existing roads approximating the route of OH 823.  Enough that, last year, a VMS was put up on southbound US 23 between Lucasville and Rosemount saying "NO THRU TRUCKS ON ROSEMOUNT ROAD".  Now, at Rosemount, there's a little assembly saying [TRUCK] [TO] [US 52] [↑ (up arrow)].

Also, if one were to observe the US 23 / US 52 junction in Portsmouth, one would observe significant turning traffic SB to EB and WB to NB. Much of that turning traffic is trucks.

[GCrites]

It's been like that for at least 20 years. Banning commercial truck traffic on the Rosemount Rd. hill is logical. a 10 ft. max clearance except for local traffic would accomplish it. Since there is zero development on the dangerous sections of Rosemount Rd. it will be fine.

[Buck87]

^ Recent pic from the project's FB page (showing part of the US 23 interchange)

more pics from around the project here:
https://www.facebook.com/Southern-Ohio-Veterans-Memorial-Highway-1697517183812433/photos/?tab=album&album_id=1832467776984039

[Buck87]

Another pic, this one showing the south end of the project looking north from the tie in to US 52

[okroads]

Some pictures I took Saturday at each end of future OH 823:

From U.S. 23 South:
DSC04450 by Eric Stuve, on Flickr

DSC04451 by Eric Stuve, on Flickr

From U.S. 52 East:
DSC04483 by Eric Stuve, on Flickr

DSC04484 by Eric Stuve, on Flickr

[okroads]

More pictures from yesterday (10/2/16):

From U.S. 23 North:
DSC05374 by Eric Stuve, on Flickr

DSC05375 by Eric Stuve, on Flickr

From U.S. 52 West (these show just how much of a climb the beginning of OH 823 North will have):
DSC05337 by Eric Stuve, on Flickr

DSC05338 by Eric Stuve, on Flickr

[GCrites]

They're hilltopping this one rather than valleying so they have to get up there. 52 is valleyed or "basined" we'll say.

[Buck87]

Some new pics of December progress we posted on the project FB page today. Here's one looking north at the section that crosses the CSX, Slocum Ave/Highland Bend Rd, the Little Scioto River and OH 335

[Buck87]

Today I stumbled across this October 2016 article from the Chillicothe Gazette on potential impacts this Portsmouth bypass could have on US 23 traffic in Ross County: http://www.chillicothegazette.com/story/news/local/2016/10/08/bypass-impact-us-23s-evolution/91664206/

Interesting read...discusses the possibility of the Portsmouth bypass leading to higher traffic volumes on 23 and what that could mean for Ross County, such as more pressure to install traffic signals at intersections south of Chillicothe, and the typical economic development talk.

And for anyone still dreaming of I-73 in Ohio, there's a section stating several reasons why that won't be happening anytime soon.

[The Ghostbuster]

I don't expect Interstate 73 will penetrate Ohio for at least 100 years, if ever!

[abqtraveler]

I don't expect Interstate 73 will penetrate Ohio for at least 100 years, if ever!

I'll be surprised if I-73 ever extends beyond the borders of North Carolina.

[Buck87]

Drove thru the area today and saw that at the US 23 interchange the main bridge that crosses 23 is now in place.

[vtk]

Beams have gone up for the NB to EB bridge over the railroad tracks

[Buck87]

Here's the latest pic of the US 23 interchange:



https://www.facebook.com/1697517183812433/photos/a.1697532240477594.1073741828.1697517183812433/1942628092634673/?type=3&theater&notif_t=notify_me_page&notif_id=1492803997165065

[amroad17]

Here's the latest pic of the US 23 interchange:



https://www.facebook.com/1697517183812433/photos/a.1697532240477594.1073741828.1697517183812433/1942628092634673/?type=3&theater&notif_t=notify_me_page&notif_id=1492803997165065

That is coming along rather nicely!

[Buck87]

They have recently posted a new flyover video that was taken in late April:

https://www.pgg823.com/fly-through-3d-animation

The video shows a flyover of both directions of the bypass, labeling the interchanges on the southbound pass and labeling the bridges on the northbound pass. 

[The Ghostbuster]

The bypass's construction is still not shown on Google Maps. No wonder everyone hates it!

[Buck87]

From the project facebook page:

We have pavement! Looking east along the mainline of S.R. 823, the passing lanes are getting their first application of asphalt. Although there is still more asphalt to be placed, the Southern Ohio Veterans Memorial Highway is taking shape.

https://www.facebook.com/1697517183812433/photos/a.1697532240477594.1073741828.1697517183812433/1963308817233267/?type=3&theater&notif_t=notify_me_page&notif_id=1496434994732075

[hbelkins]

Drove up there yesterday to scout for a potential meet. The one thing that jumps out at me is just how few exits there are going to be. No exits for OH 335 or 139? I realize the terrain is difficult for 335, but still I'm a bit surprised.

My usual route when I'm traveling north on US 23 is to take I-64 to KY 67 to US 23 and through downtown Portsmouth. I wonder if there will be any mileage or time savings by crossing the river at the Greenup Dam (KY 10) and then US 52 to the new bypass, especially if I don't need to stop for anything in Portsmouth?

Also, I noticed that there's a heavy use of retaining walls near the bridges on this project; moreso than I'm used to seeing.

[vtk]

My usual route when I'm traveling north on US 23 is to take I-64 to KY 67 to US 23 and through downtown Portsmouth. I wonder if there will be any mileage or time savings by crossing the river at the Greenup Dam (KY 10) and then US 52 to the new bypass, especially if I don't need to stop for anything in Portsmouth?

Also, I noticed that there's a heavy use of retaining walls near the bridges on this project; moreso than I'm used to seeing.

That will almost certainly be faster. I've recently started driving to Russell for work, and I've gone three different ways which all seem to take about the same amount of time: cross the Scioto at Lucasville, come down 104 to 8 to 23; straight through Portsmouth on 23; Rosemount Rd to 139 into New Boston then 52 and cross the Ohio at 10. I'm pretty sure 823 will be a time saver versus all those options.