Nelsonville Bypass

[vtk]

The Columbus Dispatch reports the Nelsonville Bypass will be partially opening soon: http://www.dispatch.com/content/stories/local/2012/09/07/part-of-rt--33-bypass-of-nelsonville-to-open.html

Westbound lanes of the new Nelsonville bypass in southeastern Ohio will open in a few weeks ... eastbound traffic on Rt. 33 will continue to use existing lanes through Nelsonville until the project is complete in October 2013.

I was just through there last night.  Westbound traffic was using the new roundabout at Dorr Run Road, and eastbound traffic bypassed the roundabout on temporary pavement while they finish the south side of the roundabout.  Portable VMS in the area promised a traffic pattern change for today; I suspect that's the switch of eastbound traffic through the roundabout.  Also, where the new road meets the old road on the west end of the bypass, they have westbound traffic squeezed over to the left, but I couldn't see (in the dark) how far along the new westbound lanes are at that point. 

I'm pretty sure they're not talking about opening the entire length of the bypass, even westbound.  When the bypass "opens" later this month, I think westbound US 33 traffic will still have to go through nearly all of Nelsonville, but then up Dorr Run Road to the bypass. 

This is a route I travel for work with a fair frequency, so I should be able to keep track of the changes without too much lag.  In fact, I'm going back that way tonight...

For reference:

[edit: updated map]

[vtk]

As expected, both directions of US 33 are now using the roundabout at Dorr Run Rd. Nothing else is changed since last night.

[hbelkins]

As expected, both directions of US 33 are now using the roundabout at Dorr Run Rd. Nothing else is changed since last night.

Are you saying that there is going to be a roundabout on what is supposed to be an expressway from Columbus to the Ohio River?

FAIL. 

[tdindy88]

I'm going to go on a limb here, but I suspect that only part of the bypass is, or will be, open, from the northwest end to Dorr Run Road. Once the rest of the bypass is open, said roundabouts will only be for those exiting off of US 33 ontno Dorr Run.

[JREwing78]

They've done something similar for the US-12 bypass of Baraboo, WI - and yes, in the future, this roundabout will serve local traffic, not through traffic.

[vtk]

The roundabout is on CURRENT US 33 – what we will call next year OLD US 33.  It's not even at the interchange with the bypass.  I suspect this was done, in part, to accommodate through traffic temporarily using Dorr Run Rd between the bypass and the old road, which isn't happening yet.

[hbelkins]

The roundabout is on CURRENT US 33 – what we will call next year OLD US 33.  It's not even at the interchange with the bypass.  I suspect this was done, in part, to accommodate through traffic temporarily using Dorr Run Rd between the bypass and the old road.

I don't remember a roundabout when I drove through Nelsonville on US 33 a few years ago.

[vtk]

The roundabout is on CURRENT US 33 – what we will call next year OLD US 33.

I don't remember a roundabout when I drove through Nelsonville on US 33 a few years ago.

I was just through there last night.  Westbound traffic was using the new roundabout at Dorr Run Road, and eastbound traffic bypassed the roundabout on temporary pavement while they finish the south side of the roundabout. 

To summarize: it's a NEW roundabout on the OLD road.  As of Friday, both directions of traffic flow through the roundabout. 

[Alps]

Once the new road is completely open, the roundabout will be a nice feature and probably appropriate for traffic levels. Until then, it will probably be overloaded during peak times (tourist season, for example).

[Hot Rod Hootenanny]

I guess the only way to clear this up is to schedule the 2013 Ohio Road Meet for Nelsonville.

[vtk]

Once the new road is completely open, the roundabout will be a nice feature and probably appropriate for traffic levels. Until then, it will probably be overloaded during peak times (tourist season, for example).

I don't think so.  With nearly all the traffic in two nonconflicting streams, the roundabout will cause less delay for US 33 than any single traffic light in town.  It is located where the speed limit is and has been for years 35 MPH anyway. 

[bugo]

Where exactly is the roundabout?  Google Maps shows the bypass under construction, but I couldn't find evidence of construction of a roundabout.

[hbelkins]

Nelsonville has tourists?

[vtk]

Where exactly is the roundabout?  Google Maps shows the bypass under construction, but I couldn't find evidence of construction of a roundabout.

West end of town, on existing US 33, at a slightly-relocated Dorr Run Rd.  I don't think anyone offers imagery new enough to show the roundabout.

Nelsonville has tourists?

Yes.  Right in the middle of town is the Rocky Boots Outlet Store, which I think may also contain a museum; the Hocking Valley Scenic Railway boards nearby; and there are numerous campgrounds and resorts strewn about the hills of the region.  I think there's even a spike for the autumn leaves...

[Hot Rod Hootenanny]

Since I had an opening in my social calendar, I got a couple of photos of the construction of the Nelsonville bypass on Sunday.

Southeast end of the bypass construction

Middle of the roundabout on the western edge of Nelsonville

Western end of the Nelsonville bypass construction, in Hocking County.

[vtk]

I drove through again a few hours ago / last night.  With a hint from portable VMS, it looks like westbound traffic will today be routed up Dorr Run Rd and onto the bypass.

[ARMOURERERIC]

Nelsonville has tourists?

I think a famous astronaut was born there.

[hbelkins]

Nelsonville has tourists?

I think a famous astronaut was born there.

Neil Armstrong was born in Wapakoneta, on the other side of the state. I think John Glenn was born in a rural area a little closer to Zanesville.

[Hot Rod Hootenanny]

Nelsonville has tourists?

I think a famous astronaut was born there.

Neil Armstrong was born in Wapakoneta, on the other side of the state. I think John Glenn was born in a rural area a little closer to Zanesville.

John Glenn was born in New Concord, 7 miles east of Zanesville along the National Road.

[NE2]

A famous horse was born there.

[6a]

Nelsonville has tourists?

I think a famous astronaut was born there.

Neil Armstrong was born in Wapakoneta, on the other side of the state. I think John Glenn was born in a rural area a little closer to Zanesville.

Parts of Mischief were filmed in Nelsonville, and that was about as good as porn got for a ten-year-old back in the day, unless you knew someone who could stick a paperclip in the back of the cable box to unlock the really good stuff.

[Hot Rod Hootenanny]

Nelsonville has tourists?

I think a famous astronaut was born there.

Neil Armstrong was born in Wapakoneta, on the other side of the state. I think John Glenn was born in a rural area a little closer to Zanesville.

Parts of Mischief were filmed in Nelsonville, and that was about as good as porn got for a ten-year-old back in the day, unless you knew someone who could stick a paperclip in the back of the cable box to unlock the really good stuff.

Sarah Jessica Parker was born in Nelsonville.

[hbelkins]

Sarah Jessica Parker was born in Nelsonville.

A famous horse was born there.

[Alps]

Sarah Jessica Parker was born in Nelsonville.

A famous horse was born there.

I would bet a farthing the statements are related.

[vtk]

The following just occurred to me: would this thread fit better in Ohio Valley subforum?