SR 279 Closes April 6 for Culvert Work, Detour Routes Through SR 139

A full closure of State Route 279 between Four Mile Road and Slab Hill Road begins Monday, cutting off a key two-lane corridor west of Oak Hill for what the Ohio Department of Transportation estimates will be a 32-day culvert replacement project. The closure runs through May 8, 2026.

ODOT has posted a signed detour that moves traffic from SR 279 north onto SR 139, then east to State Route 32, south to SR 93 and West Maple Avenue, and back onto SR 279 beyond the work zone. Drivers accustomed to the direct route should expect noticeably longer travel times for the duration of the project.

The stretch between Four Mile Road and Slab Hill Road carries commuters, farm equipment, and commercial vehicles connecting rural townships to Oak Hill and the SR 32 corridor. School bus routes and emergency service responses in the area will need to follow the detour plan or identify alternate routes. Coordinating those adjustments before Monday's closure is standard practice for ODOT District 9 projects of this scope, and county and township officials typically work with the department during closures that affect EMS and school transportation schedules.

Culvert replacements are preservation projects, not capacity expansions; the goal is to restore proper drainage and prevent roadway failure before a compromised culvert causes a more disruptive emergency closure. The SR 279 project went through public comment and permitting earlier this year before reaching the construction phase.

The May 8 completion estimate carries the usual caveat: spring weather in southern Ohio can slow excavation and concrete work, and any significant rain or flooding along the SR 279 corridor could push the timeline past that date. ODOT District 9 lists the project among its current-impact construction notices for Jackson County, and the agency will update that page if conditions change.

Travelers through the Oak Hill area can track real-time status through OHGO or ODOT District 9's traffic advisory page. Delivery drivers, school transportation offices, and courier services with regular runs through this section of SR 279 should build the detour into their schedules before Monday morning.