Heavy traffic is expected in the Tri-State area today as a massive rock slide has closed the four-lane US 52 in Ohio just across Ashland's twin bridges, detouring Ohio traffic through Kentucky.
While Ohio Department of Transportation crews and officials are working to clear debris and reopen US 52, Kentucky Department of Highways crews are taking measures to reduce congestion on state highways in Ashland resulting from US 52 detour traffic, thusly:
--Signal light timing on the 12th Street bridge carrying traffic from US 52 to Kentucky has been adjusted to allow the maximum number of vehicles to pass. As a result, motorists should expect delays on US 23 and US 60 (12th and 13th Streets) through downtown Ashland.
--All traffic detouring from Ohio is encouraged to take US 23 south (Greenup Avenue in Ashland) to I-64 to return to US 52 via the Nick Rahall Bridge in West Huntington, W.Va. However, many vehicles are taking US 60 outbound from Ashland to I-64, resulting in heavy traffic and delays on that route. In addition, a work zone on US 60 between Summit and Rose Hill has traffic reduced to one lane in that area.
--Unless travel to downtown Ashland is necessary, motorists are urged to seek alternate routes - at least until ODOT reopens eastbound US 52, which is expected later today.
As of 9 a.m. today (April 10), US 52 westbound from South Point to Ironton or Ashland is closed until further notice due to a house-sized boulder atop the roadway. On US 52 east from Ironton or Ashland to South Point, ODOT crews are removing debris and that route remains temporarily closed.
Motorists can still travel between Ironton and Ashland using the 12th and 13th Street bridges. Traffic is being detoured across the bridges to US 23 to I-64 to Huntington, W.Va., to return to US 52 in Ohio.
(story provided by Kentucky Department of Transportation)
