| State: | OH |
| Type: | SR |
| Route: | 72 |
| Map: | OH 72 map.svg |
| Length Mi: | 53.27 |
| Length Round: | 2 |
| Length Ref: | [1] |
| Established: | 1923 |
| Direction A: | South |
| Terminus A: | near Highland |
| Junction: |
|
| Direction B: | North |
| Terminus B: | near Springfield |
| Counties: | Highland, Clinton, Greene, Clark |
| Previous Type: | OH 1960 |
| Previous Route: | 71 |
| Previous Dab: | 1923 |
| Next Type: | I |
| Next Route: | 73 |
State Route 72 (SR 72) is a north - south state highway in the U.S. state of Ohio. Its southern terminus is at US 62 near Highland, and its northern terminus is at SR 334 just north of Springfield. As it travels through Springfield, Ohio, it is known as Limestone Street.
On November 29, 2023, the Ohio House of Representatives passed a bill to designate the portion of SR 72 between US 42 and Clifton Road in Greene County as the "Caitlin Renee Preston Memorial Highway",[2] in honor of an 18-year-old who died along that stretch of road in May 2019 in a head-on collision with a semi-truck. This stretch of SR 72, which carries a large amount of semi traffic, had a high number of accidents and fatalities over the years. As a result of the crash that killed Preston, the state widened the roadway and added shoulders. Although the state traditionally only designates roads for military members or first responders who have given their lives in service, Preston, a recent high school graduate, had planned to enter law enforcement and study forensic science in college. As of December 2, 2023, the bill had not yet been passed by the Ohio Senate or signed by the governor.[3]
Prior to receiving the designation of SR 72, the route of what is now SR 72 was included within the state highway system in 1915 along various routes.[4] [5] The Penn Township–Springfield routes were unified as SR 72 in 1923 routed mostly along the same roads it runs today.[6] [7] The only major change that occurred to the highway's routing happened around 1972 when US 68 was routed out of Springfield on a freeway west of the city. SR 72 was extended north along the former US 68 to end north of the city.[8] [9] The interchange that currently serves as SR 334's western terminus was SR 72's northern terminus at first but was truncated to its current terminus by 2003.[10] [11]