Ohio State Route 73 Explained

State:	OH
Type:	SR
Route:	73
Map:	OH 73 map.svg
Length Mi:	134.80
Length Round:	2
Length Ref:	^[1]
Established:	1924
Direction A:	West
Terminus A:	in Oxford
Junction:	in Collinsville in Franklin in Waynesville near Wilmington in Wilmington in Wilmington in Hillsboro near Portsmouth
Direction B:	East
Terminus B:	in Portsmouth
Counties:	Butler, Warren, Clinton, Highland, Adams, Scioto
Previous Type:	I
Previous Route:	73
Next Type:	I
Next Route:	74
Next Dab:	disambiguation

State Route 73 (SR 73) is an east - west state highway in the southern portion of the U.S. state of Ohio. Its western terminus is on U.S. Route 27 in Oxford at the intersection of SR 732. SR 73’s eastern terminus is in Portsmouth at US 23; this is also the southern terminus of SR 104, and the two state routes run concurrently for over 6miles from this point north. Once SR 73 enters Scioto County, it is designated as the Scenic Scioto Heritage Trail by the Ohio Department of Transportation.^[2]

In combination with SR 32, SR 73's easternmost 31miles are part of the quickest route between Cincinnati and Portsmouth.

Route description

The portion of SR 73 between Interstate 75 and SR 741 in Springboro is designated as the "Officer Bill Johnson Memorial Highway",^[3] in honor of William L. "Bill" Johnson, a 48-year-old, eight-year veteran of the Springboro Police Department who was struck and killed by a vehicle around 12:30 a.m. on June 27, 1983 while outside his cruiser on SR 73, investigating two people walking in the roadway.^[4]

Points of interest

Great Miami River - Middletown, Franklin
Excello Locks - Historic Remains of a lock on the Miami-Erie Canal near the intersection of 73 and S. Main St. in Middletown, Ohio. Much of the route between Trenton and Franklin follows the original path of the Miami and Erie Canal.
Middletown Historical Society Canal Museum
La Comedia Dinner Theatre - Springboro
Little Miami River - Waynesville
Little Miami Bike Trail - Corwin
Caesar Creek Lake - Warren County
Caesar Creek State Park - Warren, Clinton County
Serpent Mound
Brush Creek State Forest
Shawnee State Forest
Scioto River
Ohio River

History

1924 – Original route established;^[5] originally routed from Franklin to 1miles west of Portsmouth (dually certified with State Route 104 from 1miles north of Coles Park to 1miles west of Portsmouth before 1926).^[6]
1926 – Extended to 2miles east of Middletown along the previous State Route 6; State Route 104 certification removed.^[6]
March 9, 1932 – Extended to the U.S. Route 127 about 1miles northwest of Seven Mile.^[7]
1936 – Extended to Oxford.^[6]
1952 – Dually certified with State Route 104 from 1miles north of Coles Park to 1miles west of Portsmouth.^[6]
1957 – From Excello to Franklin upgraded to 4 lanes.^[6]
1962 – From 1miles north of West Portsmouth to 1miles west of Portsmouth upgraded to 4 lanes.^[6]
1966 – From Franklin to Interstate 75 upgraded to 4 lanes.^[6]
1972 – Extended to Portsmouth (dually certified with State Route 104)^[6] along the former alignment of U.S. Route 23.
1979 – From Interstate 75 to Springboro upgraded to divided highway.^[6]
1980 – From Trenton to Excello upgraded to divided highway.^[6]
2011 – Realigned around Wilmington along a new bypass.^[8]

External links

Byways

Notes and References

Web site: DESTAPE . . July 16, 2013 . September 21, 2014.
Web site: Ohio Byways. Ohio Department of Transportation. 2007-07-18.
Web site: Section 5534.93 Officer Bill Johnson Memorial Highway . . . March 23, 2018 . May 3, 2021.
News: Jury issues no indictment of man charged in crash . 35 . Lawson . Fred . . July 8, 1983 . May 3, 2021.
http://pages.prodigy.net/john.simpson/highways/expls.html Explanation of the Ohio State Highway System
http://pages.prodigy.net/john.simpson/highways/073.html Route 73
News: Road Numbers to be Changed on Wednesday . February 20, 2020 . The Richmond Item . March 9, 1932 . 5. Newspapers.com.
News: New SR 73/Wilmington Bypass to open soon. ODOT. October 26, 2011. November 4, 2011.