Next Phase of Chesapeake Bypass Gets Started

CHILLICOTHE - A groundbreaking ceremony, including several state and local leaders, was held this afternoon for phase 2 of the State Route 7 Chesapeake Bypass project. The Chesapeake Bypass project has been ongoing for more than twenty years.

The $128.5 million phase 2 involves construction of the western half of the Chesapeake Bypass between the SR 527/SR 7 interchange in Chesapeake east to SR 775 in Proctorville.

Phase 2 is approximately 6 miles and includes the construction of a 2-lane highway, with some 4-lane sections and truck climbing lanes. There will also be a full interchange at SR 775.

A 14-foot-tall concrete noise wall will be placed along the southern edge of the roadway to reduce traffic noise to nearby homes in three areas, including those located in the Brentwood neighborhood.

"This project has been a top priority for the region for many years. Not only will it improve safety and mobility for local residents and freight traffic, it will also support economic development and quality of life across Lawrence County," said ODOT District 9 Deputy Director Michael Dombrowski.

Due to limited funding, construction of the project is being completed in phases. Phase 1 included the construction of a new 4.7-mile, 2-lane limited access highway from SR 775 in Proctorville to existing SR 7 in Rome Township. It also included a connection between the 31st Street Bridge (East Huntington Bridge) and existing SR 775 in Proctorville. It was opened to traffic in 2006.

Improving Safety
The existing section of SR 7 between SR 527 and SR 775 has numerous private driveway and public road intersections. This section of SR 7 is congested and has high cash rates with between 9,000 and 11,000 vehicles using the roadway every day.

Since 2020, there have been 230 crashes in this corridor including 3 fatalities and 4 serious injuries.

Nearly half of all crashes on this section of SR 7 were rear-end crashes, indicative of high congestion. A distant second, 10.4% of all crashes, involved vehicles turning left.

Completion of Phase 2 of the project will allow traffic to bypass this high-congestion area.

The bypass will also include three emergency access points in the Brentwood Subdivision, Henson Hollow, and Dogwood Lane for times when the Ohio River floods local roads. The bypass is well above the 50-year flood level meaning travel should not be impacted by flooding on the Ohio River.

What's Next
Work to clear vegetation from the right-of-way began last winter.

Utility relocation will continue until mid to late July. Crews plan to begin working around County Road 69 (Indian Guyan Road) and head east toward SR 775. All work on the project is scheduled to be completed by the fall of 2028.

The detailed project schedule is still in the process of being created.

Planning For the Future
Two additional future phases of the project would upgrade the freeway to four lanes, if traffic levels warrant it. Funding for phases 3 and 4 has not been committed.