Sheriff enforces traffic
laws in Castine construction zone
The Darke County Sheriff’s
Office wishes to inform citizens that U.S. Route 127 in the Village
of Castine is closed due to a construction project that is expected
to take approximately 90 days. Road Closed signs have been
erected and are clearly established at the north and south Village
limits. U.S. Route 127 is considered closed in the Village of
Castine. The only vehicles permitted to travel are those that
live in the Village or have legitimate business there; all other
through traffic is prohibited. Detour signs have been placed
at
State Route 503 to the north and U.S. Route 40 to the south.
The recommended detour is U.S. Route 40 east of U.S. Route 127 and
State Route 503. Truck traffic is not permitted on the county
and township roads north and south of Castine due to the fact that
they can not accommodate large semis and commercial trucks at the
rural intersections.
Since the closure began
last week the Darke County Sheriff’s Office has responded to
several semi trucks on Davidson Road that have slipped off the
roadway and nearly tipped over. Deputies have been tied up
for
hours while the commercial trucks had to be assisted by large tow
trucks back on to the roads. The Sheriff’s Office has also
received complaints from citizens in the Village of Castine that non
local traffic and commercial trucks have been moving the barricades
and travelling through the construction zone despite the
closure.
The non essential traffic causes disruption to the construction
project and delays progress in the work. It is also an
unnecessary safety hazard to construction workers in the work zone.
It is a violation of Ohio
traffic laws to travel on closed roadways, disobey traffic signs or
traffic control devices. As a result of these ongoing issues
Darke County Deputies will be enforcing these laws. Traffic
citations will be issued to any unauthorized vehicles traveling on
closed roads in the Castine area until this project is completed.
The Sheriff and the Village
of Castine appreciate the motoring public’s patience as this
project progresses.
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