Construction Update: Dry Fork Bridge and Carolina Trace Road

Several roadway projects are moving forward in and around Harrison this spring. Below is the latest confirmed information regarding the Dry Fork Road bridge rehabilitation over Interstate 74 and the Carolina Trace Road closure.

Dry Fork Road Bridge Rehabilitation (ODOT Project)

Preliminary site work has begun on the Dry Fork Road bridge over I-74. Crews started clearing and preparing areas along the eastbound and westbound exit ramps on February 18. During this early phase, traffic on the ramps, Dry Fork Road and I-74 is being maintained.

This is an Ohio Department of Transportation led project. The purpose of the work is to widen the bridge to reduce bottlenecks and improve traffic flow, particularly during peak school and commuter hours. Planned improvements include widening the bridge to accommodate additional lanes, adding turn lanes at the I-74 on-ramps, constructing a sidewalk across the bridge, widening the westbound I-74 off-ramp, and rebuilding traffic signals at the ramps.

Dry Fork Road is not currently closed.

During much of the construction phase, Dry Fork Road will need to close. Motorists will be detoured via Harrison and West roads. Ramp closures may also occur at various times, but not concurrently. A detailed closure schedule has not yet been finalized by ODOT.

The City of Harrison is actively meeting with ODOT and advocating for the shortest feasible closure window. While final decisions rest with ODOT, City officials are working to ensure the impact on residents and local businesses is minimized. Confirmed closure dates and timelines will be shared as soon as they are formally established.

Carolina Trace Road Closure

Carolina Trace Road will need to close between Walking Fern Drive and New Haven Road for installation of a new box culvert and related utility infrastructure. The closure date has not yet been finalized. The City has requested that the work not begin until after the school year has ended in order to reduce disruption for families and school traffic and will work to insure that bus traffic is not impacted. Once the schedule is confirmed, the City of Harrison will make the official closure date public.

This work is necessary to install a larger box culvert and complete utility infrastructure improvements tied to nearby development. While road closures are never convenient, this infrastructure work is necessary to support ongoing development and ensure long-term drainage and utility capacity in the area. Because excavation will reach approximately 18 feet below the roadway in multiple locations, a full closure is required to complete the work safely.

Staying Informed

Residents are encouraged to follow official City of Harrison communications for accurate local updates here on The Source.

For Dry Fork Road bridge information specifically, residents may subscribe to official Ohio Department of Transportation releases at transportation.ohio.gov, monitor real-time traffic conditions through OHGO at ohgo.com, or submit questions to ODOT District 8 through the feedback form available on the ODOT website.

As schedules and details are finalized, accurate updates will be shared through the official City of Harrison channels.