Ohio State Route 158
Encyclopedia
State Route 158 is a two-lane north–south state highway
located in the central portion of the U.S. state
of Ohio
. State Route 158's southern terminus is in downtown Lancaster
at its junction with U.S. Route 22, State Route 37 and State Route 188
. Its northern terminus is at a T-intersection US 40 in Kirkersville
.
The route intersects Interstate 70 in Kirkersville, and actually follows an old alignment of Interstate 70 bypassing the town. That segment was abandoned when the Interestate was extended towards Columbus
in the late 1960s.
and southern Licking County
. No section of State Route 158 is included as a portion of the National Highway System
, a network of highways deemed most important for the nation's economy, mobility and defense.
and Kirkersville
. The only exception is that in Kirkersville, State Route 158 continued due north along what is now County Road 40 up to U.S. Route 40.
With the completion of Interstate 70 from Kirkersville eastward in 1959, State Route 158's northern terminus was relocated to its junction with Interstate 70. Meanwhile, for the time being, Interstate 70 followed what is now the northernmost stretch of State Route 158 to hook in with U.S. Route 40 in the western end of Kirkersville, as it would be a number of years before the Interstate would be completed along its present alignment west of State Route 158. Jurisdiction of the former stretch of the state highway north of Interstate 70 was turned over to Licking County
, which re-named the roadway as County Road 40. Then, in 1969, Interstate 70 was completed along its present alignment heading west from State Route 158, and the former alignment of Interstate 70 that hooked in with U.S. Route 40 was abandoned as a freeway. Consequently, State Route 158 was restored to the north of Interstate 70, with it being the new designation for the former path of Interstate 70. This, in turn, brought the highway to its current northern terminus at U.S. Route 40 in the western end of Kirkersville.
State highway
State highway, state road or state route can refer to one of three related concepts, two of them related to a state or provincial government in a country that is divided into states or provinces :#A...
located in the central portion of the U.S. state
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
. State Route 158's southern terminus is in downtown Lancaster
Lancaster, Ohio
Lancaster is a city in Fairfield County, Ohio, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 38,780. It is located near the Hocking River, approximately southeast of Columbus, Ohio. It is the county seat of Fairfield County...
at its junction with U.S. Route 22, State Route 37 and State Route 188
Ohio State Route 188
State Route 188 is a east–west state highway located in the central part of the U.S. state of Ohio. SR 188's western terminus is in Circleville at a signalized intersection where it meets the duplex of U.S. Route 22 and SR 56...
. Its northern terminus is at a T-intersection US 40 in Kirkersville
Kirkersville, Ohio
Kirkersville is a village in Licking County, Ohio, United States, along the South Fork of the Licking River. The population was 520 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Kirkersville is located at ....
.
The route intersects Interstate 70 in Kirkersville, and actually follows an old alignment of Interstate 70 bypassing the town. That segment was abandoned when the Interestate was extended towards Columbus
Columbus, Ohio
Columbus is the capital of and the largest city in the U.S. state of Ohio. The broader metropolitan area encompasses several counties and is the third largest in Ohio behind those of Cleveland and Cincinnati. Columbus is the third largest city in the American Midwest, and the fifteenth largest city...
in the late 1960s.
Route description
State Route 158's routing takes it through northern Fairfield CountyFairfield County, Ohio
Fairfield County is a county located in the state of Ohio, United States. As of 2010, the population was 146,156. Its county seat is Lancaster. Its name is a reference to the Fairfield area of the original Lancaster....
and southern Licking County
Licking County, Ohio
Licking County is a county located in the state of Ohio, United States. As of the 2010 census, the population was 166,492. Its county seat is Newark and is named for the salt licks that were in the area....
. No section of State Route 158 is included as a portion of the National Highway System
National Highway System (United States)
The National Highway System is a network of strategic highways within the United States, including the Interstate Highway System and other roads serving major airports, ports, rail or truck terminals, railway stations, pipeline terminals and other strategic transport facilities.Individual states...
, a network of highways deemed most important for the nation's economy, mobility and defense.
History
State Route 158 was established in 1923. Its original routing utilized the majority of its current routing between LancasterLancaster, Ohio
Lancaster is a city in Fairfield County, Ohio, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 38,780. It is located near the Hocking River, approximately southeast of Columbus, Ohio. It is the county seat of Fairfield County...
and Kirkersville
Kirkersville, Ohio
Kirkersville is a village in Licking County, Ohio, United States, along the South Fork of the Licking River. The population was 520 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Kirkersville is located at ....
. The only exception is that in Kirkersville, State Route 158 continued due north along what is now County Road 40 up to U.S. Route 40.
With the completion of Interstate 70 from Kirkersville eastward in 1959, State Route 158's northern terminus was relocated to its junction with Interstate 70. Meanwhile, for the time being, Interstate 70 followed what is now the northernmost stretch of State Route 158 to hook in with U.S. Route 40 in the western end of Kirkersville, as it would be a number of years before the Interstate would be completed along its present alignment west of State Route 158. Jurisdiction of the former stretch of the state highway north of Interstate 70 was turned over to Licking County
Licking County, Ohio
Licking County is a county located in the state of Ohio, United States. As of the 2010 census, the population was 166,492. Its county seat is Newark and is named for the salt licks that were in the area....
, which re-named the roadway as County Road 40. Then, in 1969, Interstate 70 was completed along its present alignment heading west from State Route 158, and the former alignment of Interstate 70 that hooked in with U.S. Route 40 was abandoned as a freeway. Consequently, State Route 158 was restored to the north of Interstate 70, with it being the new designation for the former path of Interstate 70. This, in turn, brought the highway to its current northern terminus at U.S. Route 40 in the western end of Kirkersville.