Rock Slide Closes Ohio 7 At Mingo Junction Until Further Notice
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MINGO JUNCTION -- A portion of state Route 7 between Steubenville and Mingo Junction is closed in both directions until further notice due to what is being described as a significant rockfall on the roadway, according to a release from the Ohio Department of Transportation.
The incident resulted from ongoing rockfall remediation work in the area, ODOT confirmed. Controlled blasts are occasionally used at the project site for excavation purposes on weekdays at noon.
According to the release, Thursday’s blasting “caused more material to fall than anticipated, resulting in significant rockfall onto both lanes of state Route 7.”
The department states that the road is now closed “for the foreseeable future,” and crews will be working constantly at the site to remove debris and restore the work zone. Additionally, pavement repairs may be necessary before the road reopens.
In the meantime, northbound traffic is being diverted to state Route 151 west to U.S. Route 22 east to return to state Route 7 north. Southbound traffic is being diverted on U.S. Route 22 west to state Route 151 east to return to state Route 7 south.
Currently in its construction phase and slated for completion June 30, the $23.04 million Route 7 rockfall remediation project has been utilizing blasting on the hillside since August.
The hillside in question was the cause of a March 2020 landslide that restricted Route 7 southbound to one lane. Following that slide, ODOT found the area to have “significant geotechnical depreciation,” leading to the remediation project, according to the department’s project Web page.
Law enforcement-assisted traffic stops have been utilized in both directions prior to blasting operations. Stops typically have lasted around 15 minutes.