Licking County Commissioners to Vote on Proposed River Road and Rt. 16 Intersection Closure

Licking County Commissioners to Vote on Proposed River Road and Rt. 16 Intersection Closure

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The Licking County Commissioners could vote as soon as Monday, Nov. 2, on whether to close the Route 16 intersection with River Road south of Granville to all traffic except emergency responders, The Reporting Project reported.

Intersection Safety and Crash Data

The Ohio Department of Transportation has asked the commissioners for a second time to consider closing the eastbound Route 16 exit to and entrance from River Road. Agency officials point to a growing danger for motorists due to increased traffic volumes along the corridor. Crash data gathered from 2021 to 2025 show 14 crashes at the intersection. While none proved fatal, people sustained injuries in half of those incidents.

Among those 14 collisions, six occurred when motorists exiting Route 16 onto River Road struck a fixed object such as a post, guardrail, or tree. Three additional crashes happened when exiting vehicles sideswiped traffic already on River Road. Safety remains at the forefront of transportation officials’ minds, according to Chas Cosgrave, public information officer for ODOT District 5 based in Jacksontown.

Earlier this year, ODOT pitched a partial closure that would have allowed motorists to exit Route 16 eastbound onto River Road while blocking entry onto the freeway. After conducting a personal site visit and hosting a public hearing, the commissioners voted on April 30 against that plan.

“We decided the intersection is too dangerous, so we rejected the proposal and sent it back to ODOT,” commissioner Tim Bubb said in April. “It’s very dangerous, and we felt that ODOT didn’t have the numbers to back the proposal. They’re doing a traffic count now, and we expect them to come back with a new proposal.”

The state returned with a revised petition featuring a gate or barrier to permit access exclusively for first responders.

Resident Concerns and Broader Reconstruction Context

Residents living along River Road and nearby subdivisions previously urged Granville Township trustees in July to advocate for a partial closure so they could retain an eastbound exit from Route 16. Property owners argued that a full closure would redirect traffic onto already congested secondary routes like Canyon Road and James Road, particularly near its intersection with Route 37 just south of Granville.

Adrian Colosimo, a River Road resident, wrote to the commissioners expressing surprise at the rapid turnaround of a new petition following the spring rejection. He urged officials to deny the full closure and instead encourage a collaborative, evidence-based approach that preserves access while bolstering safety.

Commissioner Bubb noted that the county remains deeply familiar with Township Road 131. While acknowledging the underlying safety hazards, the board wanted more comprehensive details before altering local infrastructure.

This renewed debate coincides with a major infrastructure overhaul. ODOT is currently adding a lane to Route 16 through Granville as part of a comprehensive reconstruction project. The initiative involves a full-depth rebuilding of a roadway originally constructed in the 1960s. The new pavement is engineered to last 50 to 60 years. Funded at $47.2 million, the three-year construction effort will continue through 2028.

Public Hearing and Upcoming Vote Schedule

Before casting a vote, the commissioners will tour the intersection at noon on Friday, Oct. 30. A public hearing will follow at 1 p.m. that same day inside the Licking County Administration Building at 20 S. 2nd St. in downtown Newark.

The board could take formal action on the petition when members meet at 9 a.m. on Monday, Nov. 2, on the 4th floor of the administration building.

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