SR 104 closed again after drivers ignore barricades

CHILLICOTHE - Effective immediately, State Route 104 is once again closed in both directions between Long Fork Road and SR 32 in Pike County due to a bridge replacement project.

On Monday, the work zone had reopened to one lane of southbound traffic while the northbound lane remained closed. Unfortunately, several motorists have ignored signage and barricades and driven the wrong way, northbound in the southbound lane, through the closed work zone. This created the risk of a serious head on crash.

A temporary traffic signal to maintain both directions of traffic is not possible due to the work zone's proximity to SR 32. The concern is that southbound traffic waiting for a green light could easily back up to the busy intersection and pose a safety hazard.

"We will never compromise safety for convenience," said Ohio Department of Transportation District 9 Deputy Director Mike Dombrowski. "We know this closure is an inconvenience and we tried to ease that by allowing southbound traffic to continue through the work zone as the project proceeded. Sadly, the actions of unsafe drivers forced us to rethink this strategy."

ODOT will continue to work with the contractor to look for other ways to safely minimize the disruption of traffic. Until then, the full closure will remain in place until further notice.

The SR 104 bridge replacement between SR 32 and Long Fork Road project originally began on February 26. The project is estimated to be completed in the fall of this year. During the closure, traffic will be detoured via SR 32 to US 23 to SR 348.