County Road 160 closes for culvert replacement in Holmes County

County Road 160 has been closed between County Road 77 and Township Road 652 since Monday, June 1, while the Holmes County Highway Department replaces a culvert in the area. The shutdown is expected to last about two weeks, and drivers have been asked to use alternate routes until the work is finished.

The closure may be short in miles, but it hits a road network that carries far more than local traffic. In this part of Holmes County, county and township roads handle farm equipment, school transportation, deliveries, daily errands and emergency access. When a connector like CR 160 is taken out of service, even routine trips on the west and central side of the county can take longer and require more careful planning.

Culvert work rarely draws attention until a drainage problem turns into a washout or a damaged shoulder. Replacing the structure now reduces the chance of a bigger failure later, and it keeps water moving safely under the road instead of undermining the pavement. That kind of preventive work is one reason the county highway system sees so many small, repeated interruptions throughout the year.

The county’s road calendar is crowded. The Ohio Department of Transportation’s Holmes County construction update also shows a State Route 179 closure that began June 1 from State Route 39 to Township Road 467 for culvert replacement work. ODOT says all outlined work is weather permitting and directs travelers to OHGO for current travel impacts.

Holmes County’s highway system is extensive for a rural county. The Holmes County Engineer says the office is responsible for 250 miles of roadways and 283 bridges, and bridge and culvert replacements are listed among its routine maintenance duties along with paving, sealing, striping, signage, mowing, brush cutting, ditching, safety projects and snow removal.

The CR 160 project also fits into the county’s broader paving and infrastructure plan. Holmes County voters first approved a 0.25% permissive sales tax in 2016 for paving projects, then renewed it in 2021 for another five-year period through 2026. The engineer’s office says the goal was to repave the county’s 250 miles of county roads on a 10-year cycle.

For residents trying to navigate the closures, the county’s road-alert system and road problem reporting tool are part of the effort to keep the public informed while crews work through a long list of maintenance needs.