Forecasted historic flooding on Aug. 20 from the South Fork Licking River is expected to force the closure of both eastbound and westbound lanes of Interstate 70 near Licking County this evening and tonight, according to the Ohio Department of Transportation.
Flooding from the South Fork Licking River has already shut down the eastbound Exit 129A exit ramp to State Route 79 and Buckeye Lake and one lane of eastbound I-70, according to ODOT. The flood stage for the river is expected to crest at 883.5 feet, which would be a record, according to the National Weather Service in Wilmington. The last time a record was set was in March 2020, when the river crested at 882.9 feet.
Matt Bruning, a spokesperson for ODOT, said the agency has already shut down one eastbound lane on I-70 due to the high floodwaters, and they expect to shut down the westbound lanes between 8 p.m. and 10 p.m.
"We cannot sacrifice safety for convenience," Bruning said. The lane closures will last into Aug. 21, Bruning said. The weather service has already issued a flood warning for areas along the South Fork Licking River. The swollen river flooded corn fields along Creek Road SW and left at least two cars stranded in the water on the road.
ODOT has already set up detours in preparation for I-70's closure. For motorists heading eastbound on I-70, they will get off at Exit 122 Route 158/Kirkersville/Baltimore and head north to Kirkersville, then go right or eastbound on U.S. 40 to right on State Route 13 south in Jacksontown to get back to I-70 eastbound, Bruning said.
Motorists coming westbound on I-70 toward Columbus are being told to get off at exit 142 at U.S. 40/Gratiot, take U.S. 40 several miles to Etna, then go southbound on State Route 310 to get back to I-70 westbound. It wasn't immediately clear why westbound motorists couldn't continue on I-70 west and do the eastbound detour in reverse, getting off at Exit 132 State Route 13 for Newark/Trentonville, go north to Jacksontown and then left or west on U.S. 40 to Etna.
Much of central Ohio has been battling deep floodwaters Aug. 20 after overnight heavy rains. Firefighters with the Columbus Division of Fire have had to conduct several water rescues, including at a homeless encampment near Blacklick Creek. Heavy flooding in Pataskala has also caused extensive property damage to residents.
Lt. Nick Davis, with the Columbus Division of Fire, reminded motorists and residents to avoid high flood waters. The division is receiving a lot of calls reporting people stuck in water, Davis said.
"Turn around, don't drown," Davis said, repeating a familiar warning from first responders, meteorologists and officials about flooded roadways.
This is a breaking news story. Check back at Dispatch.com for more updates.
Reporter Shahid Meighan can be reached at smeighan@dispatch.com, at ShahidMeighan on X, and at shahidthereporter.dispatch.com on Bluesky.
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: ODOT to close section of I-70 near Buckeye Lake due to 'historic' flooding
