U.S. Route 50 in Ross County has been reopened to traffic between California Hollow Road and Dill Road following a landslide remediation project. The route has been closed since Monday, Nov. 13, for contractors to complete paving operations as the final phase of the major slide repair.

Since the start of construction, the original landslide project, which called for reconstructing U.S. 50 east of Bainbridge by installing a 368-foot retaining wall, encountered a series of setbacks and complications due to the terrain, geological features and weather-related impacts that compromised soil conditions and the pavement. As a result, the project was put on hold and redesigned to include a second, 128-foot double-beamed lag wall at the west end of the construction zone.

With the route now open to traffic, crews were wrapping up work Wednesday, seeding and mulching along the shoulder, and traffic is being maintained by flaggers. Operations and the single-lane restrictions are anticipated to be completed by late afternoon, or approximately 4 p.m. Wednesday.

While the majority of construction has been finished, there will be some additional embankment work to be completed next spring. When crews do return to the site, the route will remain open to two lanes, and there should be little to no impact to traffic.

Submitted by Kathleen Fuller, public information officer, Ohio Department of Transportation – District 9.