By 1808Delaware
Starting March 31, one of the most familiar north south connectors in southern Delaware County will disappear from daily use. State Route 315 will be fully closed in both directions between Powell Road and Bunty Station Road for roughly 120 days, a long continuous shutdown that will stretch well into midsummer.
This is not a weekend paving job or an overnight bridge fix. It is a full corridor shutdown, and if you normally rely on 315 to move between Powell, southern Delaware County, and points north, your routines will need a reset.
Why This Closure Is Happening
According to Ohio Department of Transportation, the work is part of a broader effort to stabilize and repair a section of the 315 corridor that has been increasingly vulnerable to erosion and drainage failures. The project focuses on the stretch between roughly Hyatts Road and Bunty Station Road. Crews will be restoring roadside ditches, replacing aging culvert pipes, and constructing new retaining walls. This is corrective infrastructure work, aimed at preventing slope movement and long term roadway damage rather than adding lanes or capacity.
ODOT is also coordinating this project with other nearby 315 improvements, including work at the Jewett and Hyatts intersections, to avoid stacking multiple closures on top of one another. Even so, a full closure was deemed unavoidable.
Where the Road Will Be Closed and for How Long
The closure limits are clear and firm. SR 315 will be closed from Powell Road, also signed as SR 750, north to Bunty Station Road. The closure is scheduled to begin March 31, 2026, with a planned duration of about 120 consecutive days. This is not a phased or nighttime closure. Through traffic will not be able to pass through the work zone at any point during that window.
Detours and the “No Local Roads” Rule
One detail worth paying attention to is how traffic will be routed. ODOT has been explicit that local roads are not designated detour routes. Instead, the official signed detours will use higher capacity state routes.
In practical terms, that means drivers will be directed from SR 315 to SR 750 and then to US 23. Depending on where you are coming from or heading to, I 270 may also factor into longer reroutes.
This does not mean local roads will be barricaded or inaccessible. It means they will not be marked as detours, and ODOT is discouraging cut through traffic on township and neighborhood streets. Navigation apps may still suggest shortcuts, but the posted signs will keep traffic on state routes.
What This Means for Daily Travel
If you regularly use SR 315 to move between Powell and Delaware, plan on using US 23 for the entire spring and early summer. Travel times will be longer, especially during peak hours, and congestion on 23 should be expected. For residents and businesses located along the closed segment, access will usually be maintained from one side of the work zone. Which side that is may change as the project progresses, so flexibility will be important. ODOT typically works to preserve driveway access where possible, but reaching your destination may require approaching from the Powell side one week and the Bunty Station side the next.
The Bottom Line
For now, the best advice is simple. Adjust your routes, give yourself extra time, and treat SR 315 as off limits from March 31 through midsummer. Planning ahead will make the difference between a manageable inconvenience and a daily frustration.
