Eastbound S.R. 7 Reopened To One Lane

Crews, contractors continue working to clear route

Chillicothe (Tuesday, February 27, 2018) -- Crews and contractors are working around the clock to clear rock and debris from state Route 7 in Lawrence County after a rockfall between the U.S. 52 interchange and S.R. 527 at Chesapeake, and the route is now open to one lane of traffic in the eastbound (northbound) direction.

S.R. 7 in Lawrence County was closed in the four-lane section between C.R. 15 (Buffalo Creek Road) and C.R. 124 (Tallow Ridge Road) after a rock slide occurred along the westbound lanes during the morning hours on Monday, February 26.

Expediting efforts to restore the route, the Ohio Department of Transportation – District 9 issued an emergency contract with DGM, Inc., and working with ODOT's Lawrence County Highway Maintenance Facility, crews are working 24 hours a day to clear the rock from the roadway. Once the rock has been cleared, DGM will make pavement repairs and clear additional loose rock from the hillside before opening the route to traffic.

Until all work has been completed, S.R. 7 will remain closed in the westbound direction, and although the duration of closure is unknown, it is anticipated that the closure and the single-lane restriction on eastbound S.R. 7 will be in effect for up to three weeks. 

While the route is closed, motorists will be detoured by way of either the 31st Street Bridge or the 6th Street Bridge and I-64 in Huntington, West Virginia to the 17th Street Bridge and U.S. 52.

For more information contact:
Kathleen Fuller, public information officer
Ohio Department of Transportation - District 9
740-774-8834 (o); 740-637-9037 (m)

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