Drivers in southern Delaware County who use State Route 315 will want to plan extra time this spring and summer.
A stretch of State Route 315 between Powell Road/ State Route 750 and U.S. 23 closed March 30 and will remain shuttered to traffic for 120 days. Crews have begun a major infrastructure repair project along the corridor, according to the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT).
The closure affects the section of SR 315 between Home Road and Bunty Station Road, where crews will complete slip repairs, build retaining walls, replace culverts and install roadside ditches at three locations to stabilize slopes and reduce erosion near the roadway. The closure is expected to remain in place through late July.
Traffic is being detoured using SR 750 and U.S. 23, which ODOT said is required because state route traffic must be rerouted onto other state or U.S. highways.
For nearby residents, ODOT clarified in responses to social media commenters that local access north of SR 750 will remain open, including access to Bunty Station from U.S. 23 by heading south on SR 315.
The agency also said east-west traffic on Home Road, Hyatts Road and Orange Road will still be able to cross SR 315 during construction, meaning local neighborhood connections won’t be cut off despite the long-term closure.
Some residents online questioned why the work wasn’t completed during last year’s monthslong closure, but ODOT said the projects involve different scopes and funding tracks.
Last year’s closure focused on building the roundabout at SR 315 and Hyatts Road, while the current 120-day closure centers on slope stabilization and culvert replacements, according to the department.
ODOT also told commenters it plans to construct a mini roundabout at SR 315 and Jewett Road next year, signaling that additional traffic issues are still ahead for those who utilize the busy north-south corridor.
Trending reporter Amani Bayo can be reached at abayo@dispatch.com.
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: State Route 315 closure in Delaware County to last 120 days
Reporting by Amani Bayo, Columbus Dispatch / The Columbus Dispatch
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