Closure Date Set for Johnson Road/U.S. 33 Intersection 

Project aimed at improving safety

ATHENS COUNTY - The Johnson Road/U.S. 33 intersection will be permanently closed on Monday, August 23.

There were 26 crashes at the intersection between 2009 and 2018. The project aims to reduce the number of conflict points at the intersection, therefore reducing the risk of severe crashes. 

The median at the intersection will also be closed and the existing left turn lanes will be removed. The River Road connection will remain as a right in-right out. Traffic formerly using the intersection will use the nearby SR 682 interchange and the SR 682 corridor through The Plains.

“This step was taken after several years of making additional safety improvements at the intersection that unfortunately did not result in the level of safety we had hoped for," said ODOT District 10 Deputy Director Darla Miller. "We recognized that it was important to make this change before Athens City Schools are back in session, so that drivers can get used to the changes."

Prior to the closure, ODOT Traffic Signal Technicians will make changes to signal timing at the following intersections: SR 682/westbound ramp, SR 682/Poston Road, and SR 682/Johnson Road. The timing changes will help reduce delays and backups at these intersections. ODOT will continue to monitor traffic and make signal adjustments as needed. 

The project was sold to Shelly & Sands Inc. in July 2021. Construction is expected to be completed by mid-October.

More information about the project can be found here.

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