Interstate 70 near Buckeye Lake will likely remain closed late into the evening of Aug. 21 due to flooding, according to ODOT spokesperson Matt Bruning.
I-70 eastbound beyond State Route 158 in Kirkersville, I-70 westbound past U.S. 40 in Gratiot and several nearby highway ramps have been closed since Aug. 20 as an earlier massive downpour sent the South Fork Licking River's water levels surging over the highway. The river recession slowed Aug. 21, moving the interstate's reopening into the late evening, Bruning said.
"It may be overnight before everything is completely open and we've had our chance to get there and look at everything and get it to where we are assured that it's safe to reopen." he said.
For motorists heading eastbound on I-70,
the detour for the closure is to 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. Motorists headed westbound on I-70 toward Columbus are being told by ODOT 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.
The last time the river forced the closure of I-70 near Buckeye Lake was in March 2020, according to Bruning.
Dispatch reporter Shahid Meighan contributed to this story.
Transportation and neighborhoods reporter Nathan Hart can be reached at NHart@dispatch.com, @NathanRHart on X and nathanhart.dispatch.com on Bluesky.
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: I-70 in Licking County to likely remain closed until evening of Aug. 21
