Motorists on Route 16 through Granville face a critical decision as the Ohio Department of Transportation moves to restrict access at River Road. Local leaders are weighing a fresh petition that could soon shutter the interchange to all civilian traffic, setting the stage for a decisive vote by county officials early next month.
Weighing Safety Against Access at River Road
The Licking County Commissioners could vote as soon as Monday, Nov. 2, on whether to close the Route 16 intersection with River Road south of Granville to all traffic except emergency responders, The Reporting Project reported. This latest push follows an earlier rejection by the board on April 30, when commissioners visited the site, held a public hearing, and ultimately voted down a partial closure proposal that would have allowed motorists to exit Route 16 eastbound onto River Road while keeping the entrance closed.
Commissioner Tim Bubb noted that the earlier petition lacked sufficient data. “We decided the intersection is too dangerous, so we rejected the proposal and sent it back to ODOT,” Bubb said in April. “It’s very dangerous, and we felt that ODOT didn’t have the numbers to back the proposal. They’re doing a traffic count now, and we expect them to come back with a new proposal.”
ODOT has now returned with that expanded data set. According to Chas Cosgrave, public information officer for ODOT District 5 based in Jacksontown, crash data collected between 2021 and 2025 recorded 14 crashes at the intersection. While none were fatal, injuries occurred in half of those incidents. Six of the crashes involved vehicles exiting Route 16 onto River Road and striking fixed objects like posts, guardrails, or trees, while three others involved sideswipes on River Road. “Safety is at the forefront of our minds,” Cosgrave explained regarding the renewed request for a full closure facilitated by a gate or barrier.
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Public Scrutiny and the Impact on Local Commuters
Before any final determination is made, the Licking County Commissioners plan to inspect the site firsthand. They will meet at the intersection at noon on Friday, Oct. 30, followed by a public hearing at 1 p.m. that same day at the Licking County Administration Building located at 20 S. 2nd St. in downtown Newark.
The prospect of a full closure has sparked considerable concern among area residents. In July, property owners along River Road and its surrounding subdivisions urged Granville Township trustees to advocate for a partial closure instead, allowing eastbound exits from Route 16. Residents argued that a complete shutdown would divert heavy traffic onto Canyon Road and James Road, exacerbating congestion already prevalent at the intersection with Route 37 just south of Granville.
Granville Township Fire Chief Casey Curtis has consistently asked officials to preserve emergency access rather than completely sealing off the route. Meanwhile, local resident Adrian Colosimo wrote to the commissioners expressing surprise at the rapid turnaround of a new petition, urging officials to reject the full closure and instead pursue a collaborative, evidence-based approach that preserves resident access without relying on repeatedly submitted proposals.
This intersection debate unfolds alongside a broader regional infrastructure overhaul. ODOT is currently executing a three-year, $47.2 million project to add a lane to Route 16 through Granville and execute a full-depth reconstruction of the roadway, which was originally built in the 1960s. The current pavement work is designed to endure for another half-century, with ongoing project updates available directly through the Ohio Department of Transportation project portal and regional traffic advisories.
Following the Friday site visit and public testimony, the commissioners are expected to deliberate and cast their vote during their regular meeting at 9 a.m. on Monday, Nov. 2, on the fourth floor of the Licking County Administration Building.
