(Photo Provided) The Ohio Department of Transportation will be conducting blasting operations along U.S. 33 in Athens and Meigs counties, expanding the two-lane to four lanes.

ATHENS, Ohio — Rock blasting begins soon at the site of an Ohio Department of Transportation project on U.S. 33 in Athens and Meigs counties

The two-lane to four-lane expansion project began this summer and is expected to be completed in 2028. The project will expand two lanes of U.S. 33 to four lanes between Athens and Darwin and Five Points and Ravenswood.

Rock blasting is expected to begin in September and will continue throughout most of the life of the project. For the safety of the traveling public, there will be rolling road blocks on U.S. 33 when blasting is taking place.

A public meeting regarding the blasting operations will be held from 5-7 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 10, at the Meigs County ODOT Garage, located at 34449 State Route 7, Pomeroy.

ODOT values public participation and encourages feedback regardless of race, color, sex, age, national origin, or disability. For those unable to access the meeting, additional information can be obtained by contacting Ashley Rittenhouse, Public Information Officer at ODOT District 10, at Ashley.Rittenhouse@dot.ohio.gov.