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Ohio State Route 4

Route map:
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State Route 4 marker
State Route 4
Map
SR 4 in red, SR 4 Bypass in blue, former SR 4 in Dayton in grey
Route information
Maintained by ODOT
Length207.22 mi[1] (333.49 km)
Existed1912–present
Major junctions
South end US 42 in Cincinnati
Major intersections
North end US 6 / SR 101 in Sandusky
Location
CountryUnited States
StateOhio
CountiesHamilton, Butler, Montgomery, Greene, Clark, Champaign, Union, Delaware, Marion, Crawford, Seneca, Huron, Erie
Highway system
  • Ohio State Highway System
SR 3 SR 5
US 52 SR 53

State Route 4 (SR 4), formerly known as Inter-county Highway 4 until 1921[2] and State Highway 4 in 1922,[3] is a major north–south state highway in Ohio. It is the fifth longest state route in Ohio. Its southern terminus is at U.S. Route 42 in Cincinnati, Ohio, and its northern terminus is at U.S. Route 6 in Sandusky, Ohio. Its path is nearly ruler-straight for many miles. Some portions of the route are still marked as Dixie Highway. The northern portion was constructed by the Columbus and Sandusky Turnpike Company, see Turnpike Lands.

Route description

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The portion from Cincinnati to Dayton primarily consists of arterial roads. State Route 4 begins at an intersection with U.S. Route 42 in the North Avondale neighborhood of Cincinnati. Initially called Paddock Road, it runs concurrently with Vine Street in northern Cincinnati, and then Springfield Pike as it passes through suburban northern Hamilton County. Upon crossing into Butler County, it curves to the west to pass near the downtowns of Fairfield and Hamilton, while Route 4 Bypass takes a more direct route.

The portion of SR 4 between High Street (SR 129) and North Fair Avenue in Hamilton is designated as the "Firefighter/Paramedic Patrick Wolterman Memorial Highway",[4] in honor of a firefighter/paramedic for that city who died December 28, 2015, while battling an intentionally-set house fire. The two men who started the blaze were convicted of murder and arson in November 2017 and sentenced to life in prison. This portion of SR 4 passes by Wolterman's fire station.[5]

From Hamilton to Dayton, the road roughly follows the Great Miami River. It turns northeast to run through downtown Middletown, and then crosses the river. Shortly after entering Dayton, it becomes concurrent with the U.S. Route 35 freeway and then Interstate 75. Route 4 then splits off as a freeway paralleling the Mad River. It then joins Interstate 70, with which it runs concurrently for over three miles. The route splits as a freeway again, until it becomes a one-way pair of surface streets in downtown Springfield.

North of Springfield, the route is primarily a two-lane rural highway until its end in Sandusky. It travels through downtown Mechanicsburg and Milford Center, but bypasses downtown Marysville. It then travels through the downtowns of Marion and Bucyrus, crossing the St. Lawrence River Divide in the latter. It finally heads northeast to Sandusky, where it ends.

History

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In 1912 the Route ran from Sandusky to Columbus. In 1924 the Route extended south from Columbus on former SH 5, following current US 23 alignment from Portsmouth to Waldo, and current SR 423 from Waldo to Marion.[6] In 1926, alignment from Portsmouth to Marion certified as US 23; SR 4 realigned south of Marion to its current southern terminus in Cincinnati, replacing the former SR 6 from Cincinnati to Middletown, the former SR 52 from Middletown to 3 miles (4.8 km) south of Milford Center, and the former SR 38 from Marysville to Marion.[6]

In 1959 alignment from Dayton to Springfield rerouted and upgraded to freeway; segment through Fairborn around Wright-Patterson Air Force Base designated as SR 444.[6] In 1967 the segment from SR 201 to SR 444 upgraded to freeway.[6] In 2011 the Dayton segment was rerouted via I-75. In 2021 the Dayton segment rerouted from Germantown Pike to Gettysburg Avenue interchange with US 35.[7][better source needed]

Future

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Huber Heights safety improvements

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State Route 4 concurrent with State Routes 19 and 100 near Bucyrus

The intersection of SR 4 and New Carlisle Pike/Lower Valley Pike in Huber Heights, between SR 235/Chambersburg Road and Interstate 70, has had at least 15 accidents between 2012 and August 2018, resulting in three fatalities and 20 injuries. The intersection, which is uncontrolled, is along a high-speed portion of SR 4 that is near-expressway in character; additionally, the median is not wide enough to allow longer vehicles such as tractor-trailers to wait there safely before making a left turn (north) from New Carlisle Pike onto SR 4. Fixes for the problem intersection, all rejected, included adding lights and signage; closing the intersection; adding a traffic light; constructing a roundabout; adding an overpass; requiring traffic from New Carlisle Pike to northbound SR 4 to instead travel southbound to the SR 235/Chambersburg Road interchange, exit and re-enter northbound; and rerouting New Carlisle Pike to Chambersburg Road.[8][9][10] At the August 6, 2018 Huber Heights city council meeting, an engineering firm hired by the city, working in conjunction with the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT), proposed two alternatives. The first, a restricted crossing U-turn (RCUT) (also known as a superstreet), would prohibit left turns from New Carlisle Pike or Lower Valley Pike, and cross-traffic between the two; those movements would be accomplished via right turns onto SR 4, followed by designated median U-turns. Left turns from SR 4 to New Carlisle Pike and Lower Valley Pike would still be permitted. This alternative has an estimated cost of $1 million, with ODOT paying 80% of the cost and the city paying 20%. The second alternative, sometimes called a "basic RCUT", is similar to the first alternative, but would additionally prohibit left turns from SR 4 to New Carlisle Pike and Lower Valley Pike; those movements would be accomplished via median U-turns, followed by right turns. This alternative's estimated cost is $701,000, using the same 80%/20% cost split.[11][12][13][14] A superstreet already exists along the SR 4 Bypass in nearby Butler County.

Major intersections

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CountyLocationmi[1]kmExitDestinationsNotes
HamiltonCincinnati0.000.00 US 42 (Reading Road)
1.201.93 SR 562 (Norwood Lateral Expressway)SR 562 exit 1
2.494.01
SR 561 east (E. Seymour Avenue)
2.664.28 I-75 (Mill Creek Expressway) – DaytonI-75 exit 9
Glendale7.5412.13
SR 747 north (Congress Avenue)
Springdale9.9416.00 I-275 – Dayton, IndianapolisI-275 exit 41
ButlerFairfield12.4119.97

SR 4 Byp. north / Ross Road
Southern end of bypass route
Hamilton18.4629.71 SR 129 (High Street)
Fairfield Township21.2434.18

SR 4 Byp. south
Northern end of bypass route
Liberty Township24.3139.12
SR 747 south – Springdale
Lemon Township26.1342.05
SR 63 east – Monroe, Lebanon
Interchange
28.7146.20
SR 73 west – Trenton, Oxford
Southern end of SR 73 overlap
Middletown31.1950.20
SR 122 west (Second Avenue)
Southern end of SR 122 overlap
31.2550.29
SR 122 east (First Avenue)
Northern end of SR 122 overlap
32.7552.71
SR 73 east (N. Verity Parkway)
Northern end of SR 73 overlap
MontgomeryGerman Township38.9962.75
SR 123 south – Carlisle, Franklin
Germantown39.9364.26
SR 725 west – Germantown, Gratis
Southern end of SR 725 overlap
41.4866.76
SR 725 east – Miamisburg
Northern end of SR 725 overlap
Dayton49.8480.21
US 35 west – Eaton
Interchange; southern end of US 35 overlap
51.5682.98James H. McGee Boulevard
52.6384.7052

I-75 south / US 35 east – Xenia, Cincinnati
Northern end of US 35 overlap; southern end of I-75 overlap; SR 4 north merges onto I-75 north; exit 52 on I-75
53.13–
53.48
85.50–
86.07
53Third Street / Second Street / Salem Avenue / First Street
54.3487.4554A SR 48 (Main Street) / Grand Avenue
54.29–
54.93
87.37–
88.40
54B
I-75 north – Toledo
Northern end of I-75 overlap; SR 4 north departs I-75 north; SR 4 south merges onto I-75 south; exit 54B on I-75
54.9788.47Webster Street / Keowee Street northNorthbound exit and southbound entrance only
55.2188.85Keowee Street southSouthbound exit and northbound entrance only
55.45–
55.53
89.24–
89.37
SR 201 (Valley Street) / SR 202 (Troy Street)
56.3890.73Stanley Avenue / Findlay Street
58.4694.08Harshman Road
59.9596.48
SR 444 north / Valley Street – Fairborn
Huber Heights64.04103.06
SR 235 south (Chambersburg Road)
Southern end of SR 235 overlap
65.40105.2541

I-70 west / SR 235 north – New Carlisle, Indianapolis
Northern end of SR 235 overlap; southern end of I-70 overlap; SR 4 north merges onto I-70 east; roadway continues as SR 235 north; exit 41 on I-70
ClarkMad River Township68.51110.2644
I-675 south / Spangler Road – Medway, Cincinnati
Northern end of I-675; I-675 exit 26
70.86114.0447
I-70 east – Columbus
Northern end of I-70 overlap; exit 47 eastbound and exit 48 westbound (via Enon Road) on I-70
Bethel Township72.30116.367Enon, Donnelsville
73.99119.089
SR 369 north (Lower Valley Pike)
Springfield Township76.43123.00-Lower Valley PikeSouthbound exit and northbound entrance only
76.74123.50-
US 40 west – Donnelsville
Southbound exit and northbound entrance only
77.16124.18- US 68 – Xenia, UrbanaInterchange
Springfield79.19127.44

SR 41 north to SR 72 (Yellow Springs Road)
Southern end of SR 41 overlap
79.86128.52 SR 72 (Spring Street)No access from northbound lanes
80.15128.99

US 40 east / SR 41 south
Northern end of US 40 and SR 41 overlaps
Moorefield Township85.06136.89
SR 334 west
Eastern end of SR 334
ChampaignUnion Township91.61147.43 SR 54 – Catawba, Urbana
94.55152.16 SR 56
Mechanicsburg97.72157.27
SR 29 / SR 559 north (Main Street)
Goshen Township101.69163.65
SR 161 west
Southern end of SR 161 overlap
UnionUnion Township103.12165.96
SR 161 east – Plain City
Northern end of SR 161 overlap
105.06169.08
US 36 west – Urbana
Southern end of US 36 overlap
Paris Township112.95181.78
US 33 west – Bellefontaine
Southern end of US 33 overlap
113.29182.32
SR 245 west
Eastern end of SR 245
Marysville114.85184.83 SR 31 – Kenton
Paris Township115.34185.62

US 33 east / US 36 east – Delaware, Columbus
Northern end of US 33 and US 36 overlaps
Leesburg Township122.84197.69 SR 347 – Raymond, Delaware
125.77202.41
SR 37 east – Magnetic Springs
Southern end of SR 37 overlap
Claibourne Township126.73203.95
SR 37 west – Richwood
Northern end of SR 37 overlap
DelawareThompson Township130.67210.29
SR 47 west – Richwood
Southern end of SR 47 overlap
MarionGast Corner131.34211.37
SR 47 east – Prospect
Northern end of SR 47 overlap
ProspectPleasant
township line
134.23216.02 SR 203 – Prospect
Marion141.50227.72

SR 4 south / SR 423 south (S. Prospect Street)
Directional split begins; northbound traffic follows State Street to Patten Street
141.69228.03
SR 423 south
Southern end of SR 423 overlap
142.06228.62
SR 739 north
Eastern end of SR 739; one-way couplet
142.24228.91

SR 95 east / SR 309 east (Church Street)
One-way couplet
142.33229.06


SR 95 west / SR 309 west / SR 739 south (Center Street)
143.09230.28

SR 4 south / SR 423 south (Klerx Avenue)
Directional split ends; southbound traffic follows Klerx Avenue to Prospect Street
Bellaire Gardens144.54232.61
SR 423 north
Northern end of SR 423 overlap
Grand Prairie Township147.85237.94 US 23 – Upper Sandusky, Delaware
CrawfordDallas Township152.82245.94 SR 294 – Monnett, Wyandot
Bucyrus159.65256.93
SR 98 south (S. Sandusky Avenue)
Southern end of SR 98 overlap
160.52258.33

SR 19 south / SR 100 south (E. Perry Street)
Southern end of SR 19 and SR 100 overlaps
160.72258.65
SR 98 north (Plymouth Street)
Northern end of SR 98 overlap
Holmes TownshipBucyrus
municipal line
161.52259.94 US 30 – Upper Sandusky, Mansfield
162.07260.83

SR 19 north / SR 100 north
Northern end of SR 19 and SR 100 overlaps
Chatfield170.22273.94
SR 103 west – Sycamore
Southern end of SR 103 overlap
Chatfield Township171.29275.66
SR 103 east – New Washington
Northern end of SR 103 overlap
SenecaAttica178.65287.51 US 224 (Tiffin Street)
Reed Township183.01294.53 SR 162 – Republic, North Fairfield
SenecaHuron
county line
ThompsonSherman
township line
186.64300.37
SR 269 north – Bellevue
HuronSherman Township188.70303.68 SR 547 – Monroeville
Lyme Township193.30311.09 US 20 / SR 18 – Bellevue, Norwalk
194.66313.27 SR 113 – Bellevue, Milan
ErieGroton Township198.76319.87 I-80 / Ohio Turnpike – Toledo, YoungstownTurnpike exit 110
199.67321.34
SR 99 south – Monroeville
Perkins Township203.42327.37 I-90 / SR 2 – Elgin, ClevelandExit 111 on I-90 / SR 2
Sandusky207.22333.49
US 6 / SR 101 west / LECT (Washington Street)
Northern end of SR 4 and eastern end of SR 101
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi

State Route 4 Bypass

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By-pass plate.svg
State Route 4 Bypass marker
State Route 4 Bypass
LocationHamilton, Ohio
Existed1971–present
Map of SR 4 By-Pass

State Route 4 By-Pass (SR 4B or SR 4 Bypass, known locally as Bypass 4)[15] is a 5.97-mile-long (9.61 km)[16] north–south state highway through Butler County in the western part of the state. The route runs from SR 4 in Fairfield to SR 4 in Fairfield Township north of the Hamilton city limits.

SR 4B begins at a single-quadrant roadway intersection with SR 4 (Dixie Highway) and Ross Road in eastern Fairfield. Here, the connector road is located in the northwest quadrant of the intersection. The route travels north as a divided four-lane road first crossing over a CSX railroad and intersecting Port Union Road. The next three intersections SR 4B has (from south to north: Symmes Road, Tylersville Road, and Hamilton–Mason Road) are superstreet intersections. The roadway briefly expands to three lanes in each direction between Symmes Road and Tylersville Road as it crosses over a Norfolk Southern railroad. This segment also features the Fairfield-Hamilton city boundary. After the Hamilton–Mason Road intersection, SR 4B comes to a diamond interchange with SR 129 (Butler County Veterans Highway). North of Princeton Road, the route shrinks to an undivided two-lane road, passes under an overpass carrying Millikin Road, and ends at a signalized intersection with SR 4.[17] The entirety of SR 4B is included as a part of the National Highway System.[18]

SR 4B was constructed in the early 1970s by ODOT to allow for easier travel between Cincinnati and Middletown.[19][20][21] In the 1990s, the Butler County Transportation Improvement District (BCTID) was formed to help address traffic congestion along the fully two-lane bypass route. Construction started on the widening of SR 4B in 2010 which included the widening of the road from the southern terminus to SR 129, the widening of three bridges, and the creation of three superstreet and one quadrant roadway intersections.[19] The superstreet intersections were completed in 2011.[15][22] Construction of the expanded roadway finished in August 2012 on time and on budget, at a cost of $22.8 million.[23] The BCTID is continuing to study the option of widening SR 4B north of SR 129.[24]

SR 4B is the first superstreet corridor in Ohio.[22] As of April 2013, it was reported that the majority of motorists in the area did not approve of the new design, with some avoiding SR 4B entirely.[23][25]

Major junctions

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The entire route is in Butler County.

Locationmi[16]kmDestinationsNotes
Fairfield0.000.00 SR 4 (Dixie Highway) / Ross RoadSingle-quadrant roadway intersection
Fairfield Township4.357.00
SR 129 (Butler County Veterans Highway) to I-75 – Dayton, Cincinnati, Hamilton
Interchange
5.979.61 SR 4 (Hamilton–Middletown Road) / Indian Meadows Drive – Hamilton, Middletown
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi

References

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  1. ^ a b "Roadway Description Inventory Report - DESTAPE". Ohio Department of Transportation. March 6, 2017. Retrieved June 25, 2017.
  2. ^ Ohio Department of Highways and Public Works (September 1921). Highway Map of Ohio Showing Conditions for Travel (PDF) (Map). c. 1:563,200. Columbus: Ohio Department of Highways and Public Works.
  3. ^ Ohio Department of Highways and Public Works (April 1922). Map of Ohio State Highways Showing All Improved Roadways and Indicating System Constructed Under Administration of Gov. Harry L. Davis (PDF) (Map). c. 1:563,200. Columbus: Ohio Department of Highways and Public Works.
  4. ^ "5534.404 Firefighter/Paramedic Patrick Wolterman Memorial Highway". Ohio Revised Code. LAW Writer. November 2, 2018. Retrieved June 29, 2019.
  5. ^ Pitman, Michael (June 13, 2018). "Patrick Wolterman Memorial Highway just 3 steps from becoming a reality". Journal-News. Liberty Township, Butler County, Ohio: Cox Media Group. Retrieved June 29, 2019.
  6. ^ a b c d Route 4 (The Unofficial Ohio State Highways Web Site) by John Simpson[self-published source] Archived October 30, 2004, at the Wayback Machine
  7. ^ "ODOT TIMS". Ohio Department of Transportation. Retrieved February 18, 2022.
  8. ^ Clark, Lauren (December 12, 2015). "After man's death, Huber seeks safer intersection". Dayton Daily News. Retrieved August 14, 2018.
  9. ^ Garbe, Will (October 8, 2016). "After accidents, Huber Heights researches closing Ohio 4 intersection". Dayton Daily News. Retrieved August 14, 2018.
  10. ^ Garbe, Will (April 6, 2017). "Huber Heights will study deadly intersection near Interstate 70". Dayton Daily News. Retrieved August 14, 2018.
  11. ^ Garbe, Will (August 13, 2018). "2 options under consideration for deadly Ohio 4 intersection". Dayton Daily News. Retrieved August 14, 2018.
  12. ^ "City Council Work Session" (PDF). City of Huber Heights. November 6, 2017. Retrieved August 14, 2018.
  13. ^ "SR 4/SR 235/New Carlisle Pike/Lower Valley Pike Alternative Analysis Study" (PDF). TEC PN: 16096-005. Final Report Version 1.0. TEC Engineering, Inc. August 2017. Retrieved August 14, 2018.
  14. ^ "City Council Work Session" (PDF). City of Huber Heights. August 6, 2018. Retrieved August 14, 2018.
  15. ^ a b "State Route 4 Bypass Widening". Butler County Transportation Improvement District. July 21, 2011. Retrieved December 11, 2017.
  16. ^ a b ODOT. "Technical Services Straight Line Diagrams: SR 4-B, Butler County" (PDF). Retrieved January 5, 2014.
  17. ^ "Overview of SR 4-B" (Map). Google Maps. Retrieved January 5, 2014.
  18. ^ National Highway System: Ohio (PDF) (Map). Federal Highway Administration. October 2012. Retrieved January 5, 2014.
  19. ^ a b "State Route 4 Bypass Widening". Butler County Transportation Improvement District. November 17, 2010. Retrieved January 5, 2014.
  20. ^ 1969 Official Ohio Highway Map (MrSID) (Map). Cartography by P.E. Masheter, Director. Ohio Department of Highways. 1969. Retrieved September 22, 2013.
  21. ^ 1971 Ohio Highway Map (MrSID) (Map). Cartography by J. Phillip Richley, Director. ODOH. 1971. Retrieved August 19, 2013.
  22. ^ a b "SR 4 Bypass superstreet intersections soon to be operational" (Press release). Ohio Department of Transportation. August 16, 2011. Retrieved December 11, 2017.
  23. ^ a b Cano, Kelsey (December 12, 2011). "Superstreet confuses some Bypass 4 drivers". Journal-News. Liberty Township, Butler County, Ohio: Cox Media Group. Archived from the original on September 1, 2018. Retrieved September 1, 2018.
  24. ^ "Bypass 4 Widening Project Overview". Bypass 4 - The City of Fairfield. Archived from the original on January 6, 2014. Retrieved January 5, 2014.
  25. ^ Pitman, Michael D. (April 1, 2013). "Drivers still adapting to Butler County superstreets". Journal-News. Liberty Township, Butler County, Ohio: Cox Media Group. Archived from the original on September 1, 2018. Retrieved September 1, 2018.
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