Muskingum County drivers who use Ohio 340 will need a different route for two weeks this month, as the Ohio Department of Transportation closes the highway for culvert work. The Zanesville Times Recorder reported that Ohio 340 will be closed from Ohio 284 to Prouty Road from November 11 through November 25.
The closure covers the stretch between Ohio 284 and Prouty Road, according to the announcement details reported by the Zanesville Times Recorder in its Muskingum County week-start roundup on November 9, 2026. The road will be closed for the full announced window, rather than limited to overnight or daytime hours in the announcement as reported.
The work is described as culvert work. Culverts carry water under a roadway, and repairing or replacing them helps manage drainage and protect the roadbed from water damage. Work of that kind typically requires crews to open or work across the travel lanes, which is why a full closure is used instead of a single-lane pattern.
For drivers in the area, the closure removes a familiar east-west connection for the duration of the project. Trips that would normally use Ohio 340 between Ohio 284 and Prouty Road will need to be made on other local and state routes until the work is finished.
The announcement, as reported by the Zanesville Times Recorder, did not include a signed detour route. ODOT had not published a signed detour in the announcement as reported, so drivers should plan alternate routes in advance and allow extra time for trips through that part of Muskingum County, rather than waiting until they reach the closure point.
Planning ahead will matter most for regular users of the route, including residents along and near Ohio 340 and anyone who uses the highway for work, school, deliveries or appointments. Checking the route before leaving and building in additional travel time during the November 11 to November 25 window can help avoid delays at the closed stretch.
What happens next is the completion of the culvert work within the announced window. Ohio 340 between Ohio 284 and Prouty Road is scheduled to remain closed through November 25, after which the closure period announced by the Ohio Department of Transportation ends. Drivers should continue to treat the stretch as closed until that date and watch for any further updates from ODOT or Muskingum County officials.
Photo: Paul Sableman, CC BY