Image credit: Dan Keck / Wikimedia Commons. License: CC0 1.0.
Interstate 70 is still closed in both directions near Buckeye Lake on Friday, August 21, after floodwater from the South Fork Licking River covered the lanes overnight. Drivers heading between Columbus and points east toward Zanesville or Wheeling should expect posted detours onto U.S. 40 and leave extra time until ODOT reopens the interstate.
The short answer for anyone refreshing maps mid-trip is that the highway is not open yet. ODOT has said reopen timing depends on water levels and a roadway inspection, with earlier Friday guidance pointing to a possible westbound window around 5 p.m. and eastbound later in the evening if the forecast holds.
- Status: I-70 remains closed both ways near Buckeye Lake and State Route 79.
- Cause: South Fork Licking River flooding put water across the interstate lanes.
- Detours: Eastbound uses SR 158 to U.S. 40 to SR 13; westbound uses Gratiot exit 142 to U.S. 40 to SR 310.
- Timing: ODOT has floated Friday evening reopen windows if the river falls as forecast.
- Safety rule: Do not drive around barricades or flooded ramps.
What ODOT Closed and Why It Matters on a Friday
According to reporting that quotes Ohio Department of Transportation officials, I-70 closed in both directions at State Route 79 after the South Fork Licking River rose through flood stage. Spectrum News 1 said eastbound drivers are being directed off at State Route 158, while westbound traffic leaves at Gratiot for the U.S. 40 bypass.
That stretch is a main east-west spine for central Ohio road trips, weekend park visits, and through traffic linking Columbus with eastern Ohio and the West Virginia border. A full interstate closure forces cars, trucks, and RV traffic onto slower surface routes that pass through towns and signalized intersections.
ODOT spokesperson Matt Bruning told Spectrum there was no fixed reopen clock early Friday. If the National Weather Service river forecast held, westbound lanes could return around 5 p.m. Friday, with eastbound potentially closer to 7 p.m., after crews can inspect the pavement.
Exact Detours Drivers Should Follow
WSYX ABC 6 published the official detour paths ODOT wanted motorists to use while the interstate stayed underwater. Eastbound traffic leaves at SR 158, runs north, then east on U.S. 40, then south on SR 13 back to I-70. Westbound traffic exits at U.S. 40 in Gratiot (exit 142), stays on U.S. 40 west, then uses SR 310 south to rejoin I-70.
Those paths are longer and slower than a clear interstate run. U.S. 40 through Hebron and nearby towns includes two-lane stretches and lights, so Friday afternoon and evening traffic can stack quickly when interstate volumes divert.
ABC 6 also listed closed ramps that can trap people who try to improvise near Buckeye Lake. Those include the I-70 eastbound off-ramp to SR 79, the westbound on-ramp from SR 79, SR 79 loop ramps to both interstate directions, SR 37 between U.S. 40 and I-70, and the I-70 westbound on-ramp from SR 13.
How High the River Got and What Flood Stage Means
The National Weather Service flood stage for the South Fork Licking River near I-70 is 880 feet. Spectrum reported the river at 882.7 feet at 4:45 a.m. Friday, with a forecast crest near 883 feet. At that height, NWS impact language points to more than a foot of water across both interstate directions.
A crest near 883.5 feet would top the March 21, 2020 mark of 882.9 feet, which helps explain why ODOT shut the road early rather than leaving lanes open through standing water. Flood warnings for the gauge area remained in effect into Friday night even after the morning crest window.
Local reporting also noted that the flood gauge was not expected to fall below flood stage until late Saturday evening. That does not automatically keep the interstate closed that long, but it is why ODOT couples water-level forecasts with a physical inspection before removing barricades.
Who Else Is Affected Beyond Through Traffic
The same flood pool that closed I-70 also hit low-lying neighborhoods and lodging near SR 79. Village and county notices described mandatory or strongly encouraged evacuations for properties west of the SR 79 and SR 360 area, including places near Buckeye Lake Estates and a KOA campground in one of the lowest pockets.
Travelers who planned a Buckeye Lake overnight, or who were using campgrounds as a base for things to do in Columbus, should assume access roads and park-and-ride style returns can stay messy even after mainline I-70 reopens. Flooded parking lots and blocked ramps create a second delay layer that GPS may not explain clearly.
RV and camping traffic has an extra planning problem because detours squeeze large vehicles onto U.S. 40. Deep Arrival’s Columbus RV parks and campgrounds guide is useful for alternate overnight options west or north of the flood zone if a reserved lakeside site becomes unreachable.
What to Do If You Are Already En Route
If you are already on I-70 east of Columbus or west of Zanesville, follow the lighted ODOT detour signs rather than cutting through unmarked farm roads. Driving around barricades is both illegal and dangerous when flood depth is hard to judge from the driver’s seat.
Build a buffer before any timed arrival in Columbus, Newark, or Buckeye Lake itself. A Friday evening reopen estimate is a planning clue, not a guarantee that both directions return at once or that every SR 79 ramp reopens with the mainline.
Check OHGO or ODOT District 5 updates before you leave a rest stop. Local television desks have been carrying the same ODOT reopen language, but the controlling decision remains the agency’s field call after water drops enough for inspection.
| If you are… | Do this now |
|---|---|
| Driving I-70 through Licking County today | Take the posted U.S. 40 detour and add 30 to 60 minutes. |
| Trying to reach Buckeye Lake via SR 79 | Expect ramp closures and flooded low areas; reroute early. |
| Holding a Friday evening arrival window | Treat 5 to 7 p.m. reopen talk as provisional until ODOT confirms. |
| Traveling with an RV or trailer | Prefer the official detour and avoid improvised narrow cut-throughs. |
Cross-Ohio drivers should keep U.S. 40 as the default Friday path until ODOT posts a clear both-directions reopen. Do not assume a westbound opening immediately restores eastbound traffic or the SR 79 ramps. If your trip depends on Buckeye Lake lodging or lakeside access, confirm the property can still be reached before leaving the last fuel stop.
The traveler decision is simple even while the water is complicated. Stay on the signed detour, watch for an official reopen notice, and treat flooded ramps as closed until ODOT and local law enforcement say otherwise.
Is I-70 near Buckeye Lake open on Friday afternoon?
Not as of the latest ODOT-linked reporting Friday. Both directions remained closed near State Route 79, with possible evening reopen windows only if water levels and inspections cooperate.
What is the official eastbound detour?
Leave I-70 at State Route 158, continue to U.S. 40 east, then use State Route 13 south to return to I-70 eastbound.
What is the official westbound detour?
Exit at U.S. 40 in Gratiot (exit 142), follow U.S. 40 west, then take State Route 310 south back to I-70 westbound.
Why did ODOT close the interstate so completely?
The South Fork Licking River rose above flood stage and put water across both interstate directions near Buckeye Lake. ODOT closed the road for safety rather than leave lanes open through standing floodwater.
