State Route 48 (SR 48) is a north–south highway in Ohio that runs from SR 132 near Goshen to SR 66 near Houston, passing through Dayton.

State Route 48 marker

State Route 48

U.S.A.F. Pararescue Memorial Parkway[1][2]
Map
SR 48 highlighted in red
Route information
Maintained by ODOT
Length83.03 mi[3] (133.62 km)
Existed1926–present
Major junctions
South end SR 132 near Goshen
Major intersections
North end SR 66 near Houston
Location
CountryUnited States
StateOhio
CountiesClermont, Warren, Montgomery, Miami, Shelby
Highway system
  • Ohio State Highway System
SR 47 SR 49
US 50SR 50 US 50N
SR 48 crosses the Great Miami River over the Main Stret Bridge in Dayton

Route description edit

Commemorative designations edit

On February 15, 2005, Governor Bob Taft signed Senate Bill 156, which designated SR 48 as the U.S.A.F. Pararescue Memorial Parkway.[4] The route runs near the hometowns of four pararescuemen who were killed in action: William H. Pitsenbarger of Piqua, Sgt. Jim Locker of Sidney, Master Sgt. William McDaniel II of Greenville, and Airman 1st Class James Pleiman of Russia.[1][5] Memorial markers are installed as far south as Goshen Township in Clermont County.[2]

In 2010, SR 48 within the Loveland city limits was additionally designated as the Captain Seth Mitchell Memorial Highway.[6] Mitchell, a U.S. Marine and Loveland resident, served in the War in Afghanistan and died in a helicopter crash in Helmand Province on October 26, 2009.[7]

In 2016, SR 48 between Mason–Morrow–Millgrove Road (Warren County Road 38) and Interstate 71 in the village of South Lebanon was additionally designated as the SFC Bobby Lee Estle Memorial Highway.[8] Estle, a U.S. Army sergeant first class who was born and raised in Ohio, was a 1991 graduate of Lebanon High School in which he was in the Junior ROTC, and attended the Warren County Career Center. He served in support of Operation Enduring Freedom in the War in Afghanistan and was killed in action in 2012 at the age of 38, ten days before he was due to return home. Throughout his 18-year career in the Army, Estle served two tours in Iraq and two tours in Afghanistan.[9]

In 2020, SR 48 (Far Hills Avenue) between Stroop Road and Dorothy Lane in Kettering was additionally designated as the CWO3 James E. Groves III Memorial Highway.[10] Groves, a U.S. Army chief warrant officer three and instructor pilot, was a Columbus native who moved to Kettering as a child and graduated from that city's Fairmont High School in 1994. Serving in the War in Afghanistan, he was killed at the age of 37 on March 16, 2013, when the helicopter he was piloting crashed due to suspected mechanical failure near Kandahar; another soldier aboard survived the crash. Enlisting in the Army after high school commencement, Groves had served two tours in Iraq and was near the end of his second tour in Afghanistan. Approaching his 19th anniversary in the Army, Groves had planned to retire after a 20-year career.[11][12]

In 2023, SR 48 (Far Hills Avenue) between David Road and Stroop Road in Kettering was additionally designated as the Sgt. Cameron H. Thomas Memorial Way.[13] Thomas, a 2012 graduate of Fairmont High School, was a U.S. Army Ranger and sniper assigned to Delta Company, 3rd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment at Fort Benning (now Fort Moore), Georgia. Serving in the War in Afghanistan, during his third deployment to that country, he was killed at the age of 23 on April 26, 2017, during a raid by U.S. and Afghan forces on an ISIS-K compound in eastern Afghanistan targeting high-level insurgent leaders. Thomas was posthumously awarded a Purple Heart and a Bronze Star.[14]

In 2023, SR 48 (Far Hills Avenue) between Rahn Road and David Road in Kettering was additionally designated as the Sgt. Kevin J. Lannon Memorial Way.[13] Lannon, a 1980 graduate of Alter High School in Kettering, was a U.S. Army Ranger assigned to the 2nd Ranger Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment, stationed at Fort Lewis (since consolidated into Joint Base Lewis–McChord), Washington. Deployed during the United States invasion of Grenada, which began at dawn on October 25, 1983, Lannon, at the age of 21, and two other Rangers from his battalion were killed on October 27; these deaths marked the first battlefield casualties since the elite battalion had been formed nine years earlier. Lannon "distinguished himself the first day in Grenada, acting both as an infantryman and as a medic. He took care of wounded Rangers and wounded Cubans alike.", medical officer Capt. Robert E. Kane said at the time.[14]

History edit

In the early 20th century, SR 48 was assigned to completely unrelated routes within the state. From 1923 to 1927, it was the designation given to BarnesvilleHendrysburg, Barnesville–Woodsfield, and Woodsfield–Sistersville roads in eastern Ohio, now designated SR 800. Present-day SR 48 was previously signed as SR 50, and before that as DaytonCovington and Dayton–Lebanon roads. (See 1923 Ohio state highway renumbering and 1927 Ohio state highway renumbering).

Beginning in 2022, Oakwood began exploring the creation of a roundabout along a heavily-traveled section of SR 48 (Far Hills Avenue), where the route currently has a complex, six-spoke intersection with Oakwood Avenue and with Thruston Boulevard (despite having six spokes, the junction is locally known as "Five Points"). The city has commissioned studies which, among other improvements, evaluated the roundabout treatment as part of an analysis of the installation and maintenance costs of traffic light replacements along its entire portion of the state route. Oakwood's design plan for the junction envisioned a roundabout with a "dogbone" or "peanut" shape. As of August 2023, the city had decided to seek state and/or federal grant money through ODOT to help pay for the roundabout.[15][16][17][18] On December 4, 2023, despite having been notified by the state that $3 million (more than half the construction costs), were to be made available, the city council unanimously voted to suspend the roundabout project. Mayor Bill Duncan cited lack of clear support by city residents, and other council members mentioned lack of data about the operation of this more-complex-than-usual roundabout design. City Manager Norbert Klopsch stated that the city would maintain the traffic light at this junction for its expected five to ten-year lifespan and revisit the roundabout option at that time.[19][20]

Future edit

In 2021, the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) awarded the city of Dayton $4.74 million to place SR 48 (North Main Street) on a "road diet". Dayton, ODOT District 7 and the Miami Valley Regional Planning Commission had hired the engineering firm Burgess & Niple to study the roadway from Great Miami Boulevard in Dayton north to Shiloh Springs Road in Harrison Township, Montgomery County. That section of the street, with some of the most dangerous intersections in the region, from 2015 to 2017, had 900 crashes, 356 of those with injuries and seven with fatalities. The study area was shortened on the north end to Shoup Mill Road in Harrison Township, a distance of 3.5 miles (5.6 km); this stretch between 2017 and 2019 had 760 crashes, 34 involving pedestrians, and a daily traffic count of 18,400 vehicles. The proposed road diet involves converting the roadway from two lanes in each direction to one lane in each direction, with a center turn lane. Curbs are to be extended, allowing for the addition of on-street parking. Also there is to be new lighting and for pedestrians, new signals and refuge islands with improved sidewalks and crosswalks. In addition the plan calls for softening a sharp curve at one of the intersections along the street. Design and review is expected to last through 2022, with right-of-way acquisition in 2023, and construction to begin in summer 2024.[21][22][23][24]

On December 7, 2023, ODOT announced that it would provide a $3.66 million grant to convert the current traffic light-controlled intersection at SR 48 and Lytle-Five Points Road in Clearcreek Township, Warren County to a roundabout in 2028. From 2020 through 2022, that intersection had 23 crashes, 30% of which resulted in injury, one serious and one fatal; 74% of the crashes were rear-end. ODOT's analysis showed that adding left-turn lanes would result in a reduction of 1.5 crashes per year, while a roundabout would result in a reduction of 5 crashes per year.[25]

Major intersections edit

CountyLocationmi[3]kmDestinationsNotes
ClermontGoshen Township0.000.00  SR 132 – Goshen, Owensville
0.981.58 
 
SR 28 east – Goshen
Southern end of SR 28 overlap
1.382.22 
 
SR 28 west – Milford
Northern end of SR 28 overlap
WarrenHamilton Township13.4321.61   US 22 / SR 3 – Morrow, Montgomery
South Lebanon16.6726.83  I-71 – Cincinnati, ColumbusI-71 exit 28
Lebanon18.3129.47Turtle Creek–Union Road, Deerfield RoadInterchange
20.2732.62 
 
 
 
 
 
To US 42 north (SR 48-T) / SR 123 south (Main Street)
Parclo interchange; southern end of SR 123 overlap; southern terminus of unsigned SR 48-T; SR 48 turns west on Main Street; roadway continues as SR 48-T
21.5034.60 
 
 
 
US 42 south (Broadway) / SR 63 east (Main Street)
Southern end of US 42 overlap
21.6534.84 
 
SR 123 north (Silver Street)
Northern end of SR 123 overlap
21.7234.95 
 
US 42 north (Warren Street)
Northern end of US 42 overlap
Clearcreek Township25.1040.39  SR 122 – Dodds, Middletown
23.0837.14  SR 73 – Springboro, Waynesville
MontgomeryCenterville35.6157.31 
 
SR 725 west (Franklin Street)
Southern end of SR 725 overlap
36.6859.03 
 
 
To I-675 south (Alex Bell Road)
 
 
SR 725 east (Alex Bell Road)
Northern end of SR 725 overlap
36.8359.27  I-675 – Cincinnati, ColumbusI-675 south exit 4, north exits 4A-B
Dayton44.2871.26 
 
SR 48 south (Stout Street)
Directional split begins; northbound traffic continues on S. Patterson Boulevard, S. Jefferson Street, and E. Monument Avenue
44.5571.70  US 35 – Xenia, Eaton
45.5173.24 
 
SR 48 south (W. Monument Avenue)
Directional split ends; southbound traffic continues on W. Monument Avenue, Ludlow Street, and Stout Street
45.9874.00   I-75 / SR 4 – Springfield, Cincinnati, ToledoI-75 exits 54A–B
Englewood53.7386.47  I-70 – Columbus, IndianapolisI-70 exit 29
54.4887.68 
 
US 40 east (National Road)
Southern end of US 40 overlap
54.5187.73 
 
US 40 west (National Road)
Northern end of US 40 overlap
MiamiWest Milton61.7099.30 
 
SR 571 east (Tipp Pike)
Southern end of SR 571 overlap
61.7399.34 
 
SR 571 west (Hayes Street)
Northern end of SR 571 overlap
Union Township63.77102.63 
 
SR 55 east – Troy
Southern end of SR 55 overlap
Ludlow Falls64.24103.38 
 
SR 55 west – Laura
Northern end of SR 55 overlap
Pleasant Hill67.84109.18  SR 718 (Monument Street)
Covington72.24116.26 
 
SR 41 south (Troy Pike)
Southern end of SR 41 overlap
72.71117.02  
 
US 36 (Broadway Street) / SR 41 ends
Northern end of SR 41 overlap
Newberry Township75.78121.96  SR 185 – Piqua, Versailles
ShelbyHouston83.03133.62  SR 66 – Fort Loramie, Piqua
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi

In popular culture edit

In I Love Lucy episode #111, "First Stop", the Ricardos and the Mertzes travel this route, although they were headed to Cincinnati.[citation needed]

SR 48-T edit

 
Map of SR 48-T

State Route 48 Temporary (SR 48-T, also called Future SR 48 and Bypass 48[26][27]) is a 1.87-mile-long (3.01 km)[28] partial bypass of Lebanon running from the SR 48 / SR 123 interchange to an intersection of US 42 and Miller Road. The four-lane divided roadway is a northern continuation of a divided highway segment of SR 48. The route was created by 1971 when a high-speed bypass of Lebanon was created.[29][30] SR 48-T is not signed as such; the northbound direction is signed as "To US 42 north" and the southbound direction is signed as "To SR 48 south."[31]

References edit

  1. ^ a b Deeter, Judy. "William H. Pitsenbarger: A Hero of Piqua and America". This Local Life. Troy, Ohio: My Miami County. Retrieved July 7, 2019.
  2. ^ a b Nguyen, Minh (October 16, 2018). "image by 1ec5". Mapillary. Retrieved July 7, 2019.
  3. ^ a b "Roadway Description Inventory Report - DESTAPE". Ohio Department of Transportation. March 6, 2017. Retrieved June 24, 2017.
  4. ^ "5533.62 U.S.A.F. Pararescue memorial highway". Ohio Revised Code. LAW Writer. May 18, 2005. Retrieved July 13, 2019.
  5. ^ "Ohio Governor Signs 'PJ Parkway' Law" (PDF). Journal of Special Operations Medicine. Hurlburt Field, Florida: Joint Special Operations University. 6 (2): 55. Spring 2006. ISSN 1553-9768. Archived (PDF) from the original on November 2, 2021. Retrieved July 7, 2019.
  6. ^ Ohio Rev. Code §5533.621. "Captain Seth Mitchell Memorial Highway".
  7. ^ Houck, Jeanne (February 17, 2010). "The route to immortality". The Loveland Herald. Vol. 91, no. 52. The Community Press. p. A1.
  8. ^ Ohio Rev. Code §5534.23. "SFC Bobby Lee Estle Memorial Highway".
  9. ^ "Portion of Ohio 48 would honor Warren County soldier". Dayton Daily News. August 29, 2016. Archived from the original on September 14, 2020. Retrieved September 13, 2020.
  10. ^ Ohio Rev. Code §5534.882. "CWO3 James E. Groves III Memorial Highway".
  11. ^ Morris, Terry (March 18, 2013). "Kettering pilot was near end of final tour". Dayton Daily News. Archived from the original on December 19, 2019. Retrieved September 13, 2020.
  12. ^ Blizzard, Nick (August 26, 2020). "Fallen Kettering soldier honored with Ohio 48 dedication". Dayton Daily News. Archived from the original on September 14, 2020. Retrieved September 13, 2020.
  13. ^ a b Ohio Rev. Code §5534.845. "Sgt. Cameron H. Thomas Memorial Way; Sgt. Kevin J. Lannon Memorial Way".
  14. ^ a b Blizzard, Nick (August 31, 2023). "Parts of Ohio 48 to be named in honor of fallen Army Rangers from Kettering". Dayton Daily News. Archived from the original on September 1, 2023. Retrieved September 2, 2023.
  15. ^ Blizzard, Nick (September 29, 2022). "Roundabout being explored for major Oakwood intersection on Ohio 48". Dayton Daily News. Archived from the original on October 14, 2022. Retrieved September 2, 2023.
  16. ^ Blizzard, Nick; Susco, Daniel (May 1, 2023). "Oakwood traffic study 'heavily focused' on Ohio 48 roundabout option". Dayton Daily News. Archived from the original on May 2, 2023. Retrieved September 2, 2023.
  17. ^ Kelley, Jeremy P. (July 31, 2023). "Oakwood council may vote Aug. 7 to seek grant funding for Far Hills roundabout". Dayton Daily News. Archived from the original on August 1, 2023. Retrieved September 2, 2023. This source erroneously describes the roundabout as having a "dumbbell" design.
  18. ^ Blizzard, Nick (August 7, 2023). "Oakwood seeks funds for proposed Ohio 48 roundabout despite opposition". Dayton Daily News. Archived from the original on September 2, 2023. Retrieved September 2, 2023. This source erroneously describes the roundabout as having a "dumbbell" design.
  19. ^ Blizzard, Nick (December 4, 2023). "Oakwood suspends Ohio 48 roundabout proposal between Dayton and Kettering". Dayton Daily News. Archived from the original on December 9, 2023. Retrieved December 9, 2023.
  20. ^ "Press Release: Far Hills Avenue, Oakwood Avenue and Thruston Boulevard intersection". City of Oakwood, Ohio. December 7, 2023. Archived from the original on December 9, 2023. Retrieved December 9, 2023.
  21. ^ Frolik, Cornelius (February 22, 2019). "North Main safety ideas include lane reductions, crosswalk changes". Dayton Daily News. Archived from the original on January 4, 2021. Retrieved May 3, 2021.
  22. ^ Frolik, Cornelius (March 9, 2020). "North Main residents skeptical about city's improvement plans". Dayton Daily News. Archived from the original on January 2, 2021. Retrieved May 3, 2021.
  23. ^ Frolik, Cornelius (January 1, 2021). "Dayton wants North Main Street road diet, change 'dead man's curve'". Dayton Daily News. Archived from the original on January 2, 2021. Retrieved May 3, 2021.
  24. ^ Frolik, Cornelius (May 2, 2021). "Remake of large stretch of North Main gets boost from state funding". Dayton Daily News. Archived from the original on May 3, 2021. Retrieved May 3, 2021.
  25. ^ Richter, Ed (December 7, 2023). "Roundabout at Ohio 48/Lytle Five Points planned in Warren County". Dayton Daily News. Archived from the original on December 9, 2023. Retrieved December 9, 2023.
  26. ^ "Warren County 24-Hour Average Traffic County" (PDF). ODOT. 1982. pp. 2, 3. Retrieved January 7, 2014.
  27. ^ Lebanon, OH and Vicinity (Map). Hampton Publishing Co. Retrieved January 7, 2014.
  28. ^ ODOT. "Technical Services Straight Line Diagrams: SR 48-T" (PDF). Retrieved January 7, 2014.
  29. ^ 1969 Official Ohio Highway Map (MrSID) (Map). Cartography by P.E. Masheter, Director. Ohio Department of Highways. 1969. Retrieved September 22, 2013.
  30. ^ 1971 Ohio Highway Map (MrSID) (Map). Cartography by J. Phillip Richley, Director. ODOH. 1971. Retrieved August 19, 2013.
  31. ^ Google (January 7, 2014). "Overview of SR 48-T" (Map). Google Maps. Google. Retrieved January 7, 2014.

External links edit

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