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| U.S. Route 23 in Ohio | |
|---|---|
| State | OH |
| Type | US |
| Route | 23 |
| Length mi | 250.00 |
| Direction a | South |
| Direction b | North |
| Terminus a | near Portsmouth |
| Terminus b | in Sylvania |
| Counties | Scioto; Pike; Ross; Fayette; Clinton; Warren; Butler; Montgomery; Shelby; Logan; Union; Marion; Wyandot; Crawford; Richland; Ashland; Wayne; Medina; Cuyahoga; Lorain; Huron; Erie; Sandusky; Ottawa; Lucas |
U.S. Route 23 in Ohio is a major north–south highway traversing the state from the Kentucky border near Portsmouth to the Michigan line at Sylvania. The route links Appalachia and the Ohio River valley with the industrial Great Lakes region, passing through urban centers, college towns, and rural counties. It serves as a primary artery for freight and commuter traffic, intersecting multiple Interstate Highways and connecting with state routes and U.S. Highways across Ohio.
U.S. Route 23 enters Ohio from Kentucky near Portsmouth, Ohio, continuing north through Scioto County toward Chillicothe, Ohio and Circleville, Ohio. North of Columbus, Ohio, the highway parallels the Olentangy River and provides access to Ohio State University and the John Glenn Columbus International Airport. In the Columbus metropolitan area the route overlaps segments with I‑270, US 33, and I‑71, threading through suburbs such as Worthington, Ohio and Dublin, Ohio. Further north it traverses Delaware County, Ohio and Marion County, Ohio, passing near Marion, Ohio and meeting US 30.
Continuing toward Cleveland, Ohio, the highway passes through Wyandot County, Ohio, Crawford County, Ohio, and Richland County, Ohio, accessing Mansfield, Ohio and intersecting I‑71 and US 42 at different points. In northern Ohio US 23 goes through Sandusky, Ohio and the Sandusky Bay area, linking to I‑80/I‑90 via regional connectors and serving ferry and port facilities on Lake Erie. The final segment enters Lucas County, Ohio and the Toledo, Ohio metropolitan area before reaching Sylvania, Ohio and the Michigan state line.
The alignment of the highway in Ohio follows older turnpikes and wagon roads that connected river towns such as Portsmouth, Ohio and inland market centers like Chillicothe, Ohio during the 19th century. Early 20th‑century auto trails such as the banking era routes and state road programs influenced its 1926 designation as part of the original U.S. Highway system. Post‑World War II improvements tied to the Federal-Aid Highway Act of 1956 and regional growth around Columbus, Ohio prompted upgrades to divided highway and freeway standards, with notable projects coordinated with agencies like the Ohio Department of Transportation.
Key historical milestones include bypass construction around Circleville, Ohio and Marion, Ohio, freeway conversions adjacent to John Glenn Columbus International Airport and the development of interchange complexes with I‑71 and I‑75 near Toledo, Ohio. Environmental reviews and community planning in the late 20th century addressed impacts on historic districts such as those in Chillicothe, Ohio and industrial zones in Cleveland, Ohio. Recent preservation efforts have involved partnerships with organizations such as the National Trust for Historic Preservation and regional historical societies.
Major junctions along the route include intersections with US 52 near Portsmouth, Ohio, US 35 and I‑71 near Chillicothe, Ohio, and connections with I‑270 around Columbus, Ohio. Northward, the highway meets US 30 near Upper Sandusky, Ohio, I‑80/I‑90 corridors near Sandusky, Ohio, and I‑75 and US 20 in the Toledo, Ohio area. County-level junctions provide links to state routes such as Ohio State Route 137, Ohio State Route 4, and Ohio State Route 15, integrating rural communities into statewide networks.
Several auxiliary and related alignments serve traffic needs along the corridor, including state bypasses and business routes through Circleville, Ohio, Delaware, Ohio, and Marion, Ohio. Designated truck routes and short connectors coordinate with freight terminals at the Port of Sandusky and Port of Toledo, while local bypass projects have been implemented in collaboration with municipal authorities in Worthington, Ohio and Findlay, Ohio. Historical alternate routings reflect changes in urban planning around Columbus, Ohio and historic downtown revitalization in Mansfield, Ohio.
Planned projects include capacity upgrades, interchange reconstruction, and safety improvements funded through state transportation plans and metropolitan planning organizations such as the Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission and the Toledo Metropolitan Area Council of Governments. Proposed investments focus on reducing congestion near Columbus, Ohio and Toledo, Ohio, improving pavement and bridge conditions identified by the National Bridge Inventory, and enhancing multimodal access to facilities including John Glenn Columbus International Airport and Port of Toledo. Environmental permitting processes involve coordination with agencies like the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency and federal regulators where projects affect wetlands or historic properties. Long-range studies consider possible expressway extensions, managed lanes, and freight optimization linked to regional economic initiatives led by entities such as the Ohio Department of Development.
Category:U.S. Highways in Ohio