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Topic: Nelsonville bypass...
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Deciduous Forest Cat
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Posted: 10/19/2014 1:48 PM
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So...like a year after the whole thing was finally complete, the entire thing has been one-lane all of football season for construction.

I have to say the cost-benefit of this thing has been pretty high on cost and low on benefit. We all want to think it's saving us 10-15 minutes but the truth is it's around 4-6 minutes, tops. a couple well-placed roundabouts and a relocated traffic light in downtown Nelsonville might have had nearly the same impact.
OhioCatFan
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Posted: 10/19/2014 2:03 PM
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I believe that the project is the planting of special grasses and other plants that will grow in the somewhat more acidic soil in the median strip and on the various hillside cuts. This is because of the exposed coal and iron seams in a few places and the abandoned coal mines they had to fill in when building the road. It's a pain in the butt right now, but in the long run it's a good thing. The Nelsonville Bypass is a boon to our area. I'm extremely glad that it is in place!

Edit: the cost-benefit, IMHO, is very high and will continue to become higher in the future as the traffic on this artery continues to increase, as it has since the bypass was completed. It is now the quickest way to get south from Columbus if you want to connect with I-77, and more folks are figuring that out every day.
Last Edited: 10/19/2014 2:09:34 PM by OhioCatFan
The Optimist
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Posted: 10/19/2014 4:49 PM
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All I know is that I can make it from Downtown Columbus to Athens in an hour and change.
Athens
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Posted: 10/19/2014 5:26 PM
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Super 2 roads with turn lanes at cross roads are the way to go in Ohio. The next project should be to build a new SR 13 as a Super 2 between Athens and Zanesville. They are safer, straighter roads that more directly connect cities. That said there are enough people and events going on in the 33 corridor to justify a 4 lane highway. It also connects Parkersburg in with Columbus where its now only 90 minutes.
Athens
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Posted: 10/19/2014 5:31 PM
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OhioCatFan wrote:expand_more
Edit: the cost-benefit, IMHO, is very high and will continue to become higher in the future as the traffic on this artery continues to increase, as it has since the bypass was completed. It is now the quickest way to get south from Columbus if you want to connect with I-77, and more folks are figuring that out every day.
With Lancaster so close to Columbus that makes Athens more into a stop for gas or lunch for anyone on their way down to WV or North Carolina.
RSBobcat
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Posted: 10/19/2014 6:16 PM
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OhioCatFan wrote:expand_more
I believe that the project is the planting of special grasses and other plants that will grow in the somewhat more acidic soil in the median strip and on the various hillside cuts. This is because of the exposed coal and iron seams in a few places and the abandoned coal mines they had to fill in when building the road. It's a pain in the butt right now, but in the long run it's a good thing. The Nelsonville Bypass is a boon to our area. I'm extremely glad that it is in place!

Edit: the cost-benefit, IMHO, is very high and will continue to become higher in the future as the traffic on this artery continues to increase, as it has since the bypass was completed. It is now the quickest way to get south from Columbus if you want to connect with I-77, and more folks are figuring that out every day.
Looks like that to me, plus the safety rail (or whatever it's called) getting put in the median. Should not take that long to get it done. Is definitely still faster than the old 2 lane from Haydenville exit through Nelsonville. Easily saves me 15 min one way from Columbus.
Pataskala
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Posted: 10/19/2014 7:56 PM
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When we came through for homecoming it was sooooo much better than going through N-ville ever was, especially if they had a festival going on. It's too bad for N-ville, because they're losing money from people who aren't stopping there anymore for gas or McD's or Sonic. But it will increase traffic to southeast Ohio and benefit the region.
davepi2
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Posted: 10/20/2014 7:22 AM
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Has anyone been through Nelsonville lately to see if anything is still open there?
Bobcatbob
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Posted: 10/20/2014 10:24 AM
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davepi2 wrote:expand_more
Has anyone been through Nelsonville lately to see if anything is still open there?
If it's any indication, I've talked to any number of people who, like me, consider dropping in on downtown Nelsonville for old times sake on every trip down 33 and so far none of us has actually done it.
OhioCatFan
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Posted: 10/20/2014 10:34 AM
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I've been in Nelsonville twice since the bypass has opened. The biggest change that I've noticed is that there aren't as many open gas stations. On one of my trips I was surprised at the amount of traffic on Canal Street given the bypass. Perhaps more locals from nearby areas are making up some -- but not all -- of the slack. This is just my impressionistic view for what it is worth.
C Money
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Posted: 10/20/2014 10:44 AM
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Bobcatbob wrote:expand_more
If it's any indication, I've talked to any number of people who, like me, consider dropping in on downtown Nelsonville for old times sake on every trip down 33 and so far none of us has actually done it.
I always have the same thought coming up from the south on 33. "Man, one of these days, I gotta take old 33 into town." Never happens. But I swear, one of these days it will!
JSF
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Posted: 10/20/2014 10:57 AM
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OhioCatFan wrote:expand_more
It is now the quickest way to get south from Columbus if you want to connect with I-77, and more folks are figuring that out every day.
You mean down 33 and connecting with 77 in WV? That's actually faster than shooting over 70?
OhioCatFan
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Posted: 10/20/2014 11:12 AM
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JSF wrote:expand_more
It is now the quickest way to get south from Columbus if you want to connect with I-77, and more folks are figuring that out every day.
You mean down 33 and connecting with 77 in WV? That's actually faster than shooting over 70?
Yes Sir! Several of my wife's relatives in Columbus have discovered this on their own without any input from me. It's the hypotenuse of a right triangle, and even with the slower speed limits on part of the route, it has proven a faster way to get to North Carolina and Georgia.
WishIWasAtLuckys
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Posted: 10/20/2014 11:49 AM
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The thing that saves the time is not really the bypass much, but more the increased speed ability.

When Governor Kasich signed a law that increased freeway speed to 70mph - it really sped things up because you are not stopping or slowing down.

I am from Circleville and I now find you can make it from Route 22 exit to Athens in about 35 minutes. You can't really beat that.
Bobcatbob
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Posted: 10/20/2014 3:42 PM
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OhioCatFan wrote:expand_more
It is now the quickest way to get south from Columbus if you want to connect with I-77, and more folks are figuring that out every day.
You mean down 33 and connecting with 77 in WV? That's actually faster than shooting over 70?
Yes Sir! Several of my wife's relatives in Columbus have discovered this on their own without any input from me. It's the hypotenuse of a right triangle, and even with the slower speed limits on part of the route, it has proven a faster way to get to North Carolina and Georgia.
33 to 50 to I77 ain't bad either now that Parkersburg is connected but for the light at 77. It's probably not so, but it seems more direct to me than the 33 to Ripley/Ravenswood route.
bobcatsquared
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Posted: 10/20/2014 4:11 PM
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JSF wrote:expand_more
It is now the quickest way to get south from Columbus if you want to connect with I-77, and more folks are figuring that out every day.
You mean down 33 and connecting with 77 in WV? That's actually faster than shooting over 70?
According mapquest, yes. But not by much.
OhioCatFan
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Posted: 10/20/2014 5:17 PM
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bobcatsquared wrote:expand_more
It is now the quickest way to get south from Columbus if you want to connect with I-77, and more folks are figuring that out every day.
You mean down 33 and connecting with 77 in WV? That's actually faster than shooting over 70?
According mapquest, yes. But not by much.
Mapquest is probably right if you scrupulously obey the speed limits. However, if you do the gentleman's +5 the advantage of the Rt. 33 route is even greater. Also, I'm not sure mapquest uses the new 70 mph zones on Rt. 33 north of Athens in its calculations yet.
Deciduous Forest Cat
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Posted: 10/20/2014 5:20 PM
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Let's put it like this. I use a hand-me-down gps that hasn't been updated in five years, so it doesn't know the bypass. So my ETA says one thing, then I hit the bypass and it's confused, and when I rejoin old 33, it's only improved by 5 minutes. It's proven pretty accurate in most cases. Yes, we all know how many lights you (used to) make or don't make in nelsonville is a variable, but no one is saving 15 minutes just from this bypass.**

**Lumberjack festival weekend excepted
Last Edited: 10/20/2014 5:21:44 PM by Deciduous Forest Cat
Alan Swank
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Posted: 10/20/2014 5:39 PM
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Deciduous Forest Cat wrote:expand_more
Let's put it like this. I use a hand-me-down gps that hasn't been updated in five years, so it doesn't know the bypass. So my ETA says one thing, then I hit the bypass and it's confused, and when I rejoin old 33, it's only improved by 5 minutes. It's proven pretty accurate in most cases. Yes, we all know how many lights you (used to) make or don't make in nelsonville is a variable, but no one is saving 15 minutes just from this bypass.**

**Lumberjack festival weekend excepted
Agreed from my house to Carroll used to take exactly one hour. Now it takes 53 minutes. This is from a guy who has driven the roads of southeast Ohio for the last 31 years every day of the week. Disclaimer, I drive the posted speed limit.
OhioCatFan
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Posted: 10/20/2014 6:13 PM
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The bypass certainly improves my time to Columbus by about 15 minutes, but then I was always behind six semis going through Nelsonville and hit every light as it turned red. My driving karma through Nelsonville was never very good. It think it all goes back to my days on the AHS track team when at Nelsonville I blew a lead in the 440 in the last half lap and finished like seventh out of eight after being first coming around the last bend. My lungs simply gave out and I was gasping for air. So, I've had issues with that town for a long time! :-)
Ohio69
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Posted: 10/20/2014 10:31 PM
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Obviously the bigger change has been the Lancaster bypass. Combined with the Nelsonville bypass and the new speed limit, it is quite amazing how quickly one can get to, say, the Columbus Airport or Easton compared to back in the day.

Perception is reality. And perception from everyone I know is the Nelsonville bypass makes the trip feel way faster and definitely way less a pain in the ass.

My son misses seeing the train though.
RSBobcat
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Posted: 10/20/2014 11:19 PM
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Bobcatbob wrote:expand_more
Has anyone been through Nelsonville lately to see if anything is still open there?
If it's any indication, I've talked to any number of people who, like me, consider dropping in on downtown Nelsonville for old times sake on every trip down 33 and so far none of us has actually done it.
Doubt if any of those were BobcatLove - Wonder if he is still boycotting McD's and their bad coffee........
RSBobcat
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Posted: 10/20/2014 11:24 PM
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davepi2 wrote:expand_more
Has anyone been through Nelsonville lately to see if anything is still open there?
Like.....Hocking Tech? Maybe not for long.......

I think the fears of losing a ton of business to the bypass were exaggerated. I drove through maybe a thousand times round trip from CBus last 20 years. On the way down in a hurry to get to Athens, why stop? On the way back typically late night and want to get back home, why stop? Maybe rarely to get gas and just because I had to or would not make it to Athens.
RSBobcat
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Posted: 10/20/2014 11:31 PM
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From I-70/I-275 east side Columbus. To Charleston WV. 33-Ravenswood-Charleston At Least 15 minutes faster than 70-77. More like 20 minutes faster. Have done both, many times, but quit the 70 east option years ago - before the Nelsonville bypass - the Lancaster bypass, 33 south of Athens improvements - those were the key.
Last Edited: 10/20/2014 11:32:11 PM by RSBobcat
Fake Jeff McKinney
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Posted: 10/21/2014 8:28 AM
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The Nelsonville bypass is a fine addition to the state of Ohio road system.
Last Edited: 10/21/2014 8:29:17 AM by Fake Jeff McKinney
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