Pomeroy,
Ravenswood, and the Future of US 33
Darwin
This is the southern end of a new US 33 expressway
from Athens to Darwin (To connect two earlier constructed 4 lane
highways). This will be a giant improvement over the current 2
lane section of US 33 south of Athens when completed. For what
it's worth, Darwin is all but a couple of houses at a crossroad.
You can see the new highway curving away to the west,
from current US 33 near Oh 681 and Darwin
The new routing of Oh 681 under the new routing of
US 33....once everything is completed.
Heading west(north) on US 33, you can see the construction
ahead as you descend towards Darwin.
Pomeroy
Signage that has been altered to represent the completed
Ravenwood Connector and new routing for US 33. (Photo taken in
February, 2004)
More signage that was altered after US 33 was "moved"
out of Pomeroy. Evidently, ODOT has been changing the route shields
on this sign quite a bit over the last several years (That is
the remenants of an Oh 7 North behind the Oh 833 shield), but
the federal shield markings are from the US 33 shield that once
was there. Junction of US 33, Oh 7, Oh 124, Oh 833 (Photo taken
in February, 2004)
The northern end of Oh 833. No end sign just some confusing
directions if you exit here.
Another attempt by me to get a photo of an Ohio River
Scenic Byway sign. And no that is NOT a sign error, the
Oh 833 shield just curled up there, it is not a misplaced Oh 83
shield.
Is this an old fishing pier or the remnant of a bridge
over the Ohio River (Along Oh 833 in Pomeroy)
The Pomeroy - Mason Bridge. Formerly used by US 33,
now used by Oh 833. (Photo taken in February, 2004).
The southern terminus of Oh 833 (at the east end of
the Pomeroy-Mason Bridge) (Photo taken in February, 2004)
Now that US 33 has been routed away from here, Ohio
and West Virginia are constructing a bridge to replace the older
one to left. Photo taken in February, 2004
Ravenswood Connector
This was only completed several months earlier when
I drove this. I was under impression that US 33 would be 4 lanes
all the way from Pomeroy to Ravenwood (after all it's already,
or planned to be, 4 lanes from Columbus to Pomeroy). After I got
east of Oh 7, I was in for a big surprise as I saw the highway
narrow to two lanes. Essentially, US 33 is "super 2"
(meaning in Ohio, two lanes with limited crossings and no driveways
or private access points) from Pomeroy to Ravenwood. Supposedly,
Right-of-way is secured to widen US 33 through here once traffic
counts dictate it. (Photo taken in February, 2004)
Is that a bridge I see in the distance... (That is
Oh 338 where those thin white horizontal lines are) (Photo taken
in February, 2004)
Head on view of the Ravenswood bridge, going east into
West Virginia (Photo from February, 2004)
This
bridge was actually completed in 1982 and was designated as Oh
824 till Ohio rerouted US 33 through here in 2003
(thanks
to Sherman Cahal for the added info)
Crossing view of the Ravenswood Bridge. Looking north
from West Virginia (Photo taken in February, 2004)
The official name for the Ravenswood Bridge. William
S. Ritchie was a West Virginia Department of Highways commissioner,
and also a many term Mayor of Ravenswood. (Thanks to Eric Gumm
for the info on Mr. Ritchie)
Links
ODOT Pages
Route
33 Collection - AthensOhionet
Page created on April 29, 2004/Last updated on August 25,
2004
Questions, comments, and submissions can be sent to Sandor
Gulyas
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