| State: | OH |
| Type: | SR |
| Route: | 545 |
| Map: | OH 545 map.svg |
| Maint: | ODOT |
| Length Mi: | 17.01 |
| Length Round: | 2 |
| Length Ref: | [1] [2] |
| Established: | 1937 |
| Direction A: | South |
| Terminus A: | in Mansfield |
| Junction: | in Mansfield |
| Direction B: | North |
| Terminus B: | in Savannah |
| Counties: | Richland, Ashland |
| Previous Type: | OH 1927 |
| Previous Route: | 544 |
| Next Type: | SR |
| Next Route: | 546 |
State Route 545 (SR 545) is a 17.01miles long north - south state highway in the northern portion of the U.S. state of Ohio. The southern terminus of SR 545 is at a T-intersection with SR 39 in the city of Mansfield. Its northern terminus is at the U.S. Route 250 (US 250) and SR 60 concurrency in the village of Savannah.
The path of SR 545 takes it through the northeastern quadrant of Richland County and the northwestern part of Ashland County. No portion of SR 545 is included within the National Highway System (NHS), a network of highways identified as being most important for the economy, mobility and defense of the country.[3]
SR 545 was applied in 1937. The highway originally consisted of the entirety of the existing SR 288, a portion of SR 97 from SR 288's eastern terminus east a short distance and the entire length of locally-maintained Marion Avenue to the northeast of there into Mansfield. The segment of SR 97 and Marion Avenue that originally comprised SR 545 were part of a continuous stretch of roadway as of 1937.[4] [5] One year later, the highway was extended northeast from Mansfield along the entirety of its present alignment to its current northern terminus at the US 250/SR 60 concurrency in Savannah.[6]
In 1949, the portion of SR 545 between the eastern terminus of SR 288 and Mansfield was removed from the state highway system, in preparation for construction of the Clear Fork Reservoir. A portion of the pavement of the former SR 545 was removed as a result of this.[7] [8] Consequently, SR 545 now existed in two disconnected segments, one along the length of what is now SR 288, and the other along its present routing. This situation would be resolved by 1953, when the southwestern segment of SR 545 was renamed as SR 288. As a result, SR 545 took on its present form.[9] [10]