Every decade or so, Ohio pushes to revisit the proposed Interstate 73 that would connect Michigan to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. It's been happening since Congress legislated the route in 1991. Within Ohio, Interstate 73 generally follows the US 23 corridor from Portsmouth through Columbus to Toledo, and into Michigan.
Since High Priority Corridor Five was created, Ohio has really done nothing to move forward with Interstate 73. Sure, there have been feasibility studies here and there. But actual dollars and construction just haven't occurred.
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| The US 33 Nelsonville Bypass appears to have been built to Interstate standards. |
However, Ohio has been slowly upgrading US 33 to a full freeway through Southeastern Ohio. Bypasses of Lancaster and Nelsonville opened in 2004 and 2013, respectively. Other sections of two-lane road are being twinned, some to freeway or, at a minimum, to expressway standards. Currently, a $274 million widening project in Athens and Meigs County will eliminate the remaining two-lane segments of US 33 between Columbus and the Ohio River. Additionally, a new interchange at Pickerington Road and US 33 in Fairfield County is under construction. That project cost is roughly $51 million.
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| US 33 is being widened to four-lanes in Athens and Meigs Counties, Ohio. |
The Pickerington Road interchange is part of the Ohio Department of Transportation's (ODOT) Southeast Corridor Study/Project. ODOT is developing plans to convert 12 miles of US 33 southeast of Columbus and I-270 into a limited-access highway. Further, the Pickerington Road Interchange will leave only one traffic light along US 33 between I-270 and the Ohio River. That light is located south of Lancaster at Allen Road.
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| Soon, this traffic light on US 33 at Allen Road south of Lancaster will be the only traffic light on US 33 between I-270 and West Virginia. |
In Hocking County, ODOT recently completed a study to upgrade a four-mile section of divided highway to a full limited-access highway. The project eliminates nine at-grade crossings and will make US 33 a fully controlled-access highway within Hocking County.
Meanwhile, except for Portsmouth, there has been minimal movement in upgrading US 23 from the Ohio River to Columbus. Bypasses or significant access control upgrades are necessary in Waverly, Massieville, Circleville, and South Bloomfield. After the currently scheduled improvements to US 33 are finished, the highway will meet or be closer to Interstate standards than much of US 23. Ohio, if they really want Interstate 73, has a highway ready to go with fewer upgrades needed.
So why not move the routing of Interstate 73 to US 33?
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| A look at the current planned route of I-73 through Ohio and US 33 through Southeastern Ohio. (Google Maps/Adam Prince) |
First, the Interstate 73 corridor through Ohio is legislatively routed. Changing the highway's routing would require legislation to change HPC 5 to allow I-73 to move onto US 33. (This is why Interstate 74 can't be routed to Wilmington, North Carolina, despite the insistence of others.)
But let's say an Ohio Congressperson reads this post and goes, "Hey, that's a great idea, Adam. I'm going to push to get 73 moved." What about I-74? What about West Virginia?
Let's start with I-74 in Ohio. Its extension would run east from Cincinnati along Ohio 32 to US 23 near Jasper, then joining US 23 and I-73 south, utilizing the Portsmouth Bypass, and then US 52 before entering West Virginia near Huntington. Nothing would change. Nor would Interstate 74's routing through West Virginia, which we'll get to in a moment.
Interstate 74 would continue to follow the legislated corridor and proposed route through Southern Ohio. It would just be on its own.
West Virginia:
Currently, Interstate 73 will enter the Mountain State from Virginia along the US 460 corridor east of Princeton. It will then join up with Interstate 74 and follow the current and proposed King Coal and Tolsia Highways from Bluefield to Huntington.
Interstate 74 will enter West Virginia via Interstate 77 and then follow the King Coal Highway and Tolsia Highway to Huntington.
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| This now long-removed I-73 Corridor sign was located at the current interchange with US 52/WV 108/King Coal Highway and US 460 near Bluefield. (Adam Prince, April 14, 2001) |
With Interstate 73 now following US 33, I-73 would enter from Virginia the same way. Meet and join Interstate 77 near Princeton (Exit 9) and then follow Interstate 77 north for over 100 miles to Exit 146, where US 33 West currently leaves I-77. West Virginia and Ohio would need to build a second or a new crossing over the Ohio River at Ravenswood. West Virginia could utilize some or all of the current four-lane US 33/WV 2 section between I-77 and the Ohio River.
With an Interstate-quality grade Ohio River crossing, I-73 could be signed from Columbus to Princeton, WV. (Completing I-73 to Blacksburg, VA is another topic on its own.)
As for Interstate 74, it would follow its same course through southwestern West Virginia with no changes.
Yes, this is a silly, half-serious idea. But if Ohio ever gets serious about building Interstate 73, they have a good highway ready to go, so why not utilize it?
All photos taken by post author, September 4, 2026 - unless otherwise noted.
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