State Route 103 (SR103) is a 77.07-mile (124.03km)state route that runs between Bluffton and Willard in the US state of Ohio. Most of the route is a rural two-lane highway and passes through both farmland and residential properties. In Bluffton the route has two interchanges with Interstate 75 (I–75).
The highway was first signed in 1923 on much the same alignment as today. In both 1935 and 1938 the route was extended east. The entire route was paved by 1939. Some of the highway replaced U.S. Route 25 (US25), in 1964. SR103 replaced the SR194 and SR298 designation of the highway from Chatfield to Willard, in 1969.
Route description
SR103 begins at an interchange with I–75, on the south side of Bluffton. The route heads northwest as a two-lane highway crossing over a railroad track. The road passes through residential properties, before turning northeast towards downtown Bluffton. In downtown Bluffton the highway passes on the northwest side of Bluffton University, before the road turn toward the southeast. As the route heads southeast it passes over the railroad track again, followed by a curve due east. After the curve is the second interchange with I–75, in a commercial area of Bluffton. The highway passes the Bluffton Airport and leaves the village of Bluffton. East of Bluffton the route passes through farmland and has an intersection with SR235, in rural Hancock County. The route enters Arlington, passing through mostly residential properties. In the center of the village SR103 has an intersection with U.S. Route 68 (US68).[4][5]
Along State Route 103 in Orange Township, Hancock County.
East of the intersection with US68, SR103 has an at-grade railroad crossing, before leaving Arlington. The highway passes through farmland and begins a concurrency with SR37, on the south side of Mount Blanchard. The concurrency heads north through Mount Blanchard, before SR103 turns due east, just north of the town. SR103 heads east, until a sharp turn due north. Followed by a second turn due east. As the highway nears Carey it begins to curve northeast. The route enters Carey at en interchange with US23 and SR15. SR103 continues northeast concurrent with US23, passing residential properties on its way to downtown. In downtown Carey SR103 leaves US23 and heads southeast concurrent with SR199. The concurrency passes more residential properties and has an at-grade railroad. The route leaves SR199 heading due east and leaves the town of Carey soon after.[4][5]
East of Carey, SR103 heads east passes farmland, with some woodland. The route has a T-intersection with SR53, near Tymochtee. SR103 turns northeast onto SR53, until SR103 turns due east. The highway heads east through mostly farmland, before entering Sycamore. On the east side of Sycamore SR103, begins a concurrency with SR67. In the center of the Village SR67 turns due north onto SR231, with SR103 still heading east, concurrent with SR231. The concurrency leaves Sycamore and enter rural Wyandot County, where SR231 leaves SR103 heading due south. SR103 crosses into Crawford County. The highway heads towards Chatfield, passing through a very short concurrency with SR100 and an intersection with SR19.[4][5]
In Chatfield SR103, turns northeast concurrent with SR4. The concurrency passes through the center of the village, before SR103 turns due east, leaving SR4. The route heads due east toward New Washington, passing through farmland. On the west side of New Washington the highway curves southeast, before curving back due east, passing through residential properties. In downtown the route turns due south, passing commercial properties and having an intersection with SR602. At the intersection with SR602, SR103 turns southeast and SR602 continues due south. The roadway passes more residential properties, before leaving New Washington. The route heads east through farmland, having an intersection with SR39, before turning due north in rural Crawford County. The highway heads due north, until the Crawford–Huron county line, where SR103 turns due east. SR103 heads east as the county line, before turning due north towards Willard.[4][5]
SR103 enters Willard from the south, passing the Willard Municipal Airport and passing through commercial properties. The road has an intersection with US224, before heading through residential properties. The route enters downtown Willard as Main Street and makes a sharp turn due east onto Tiffin Street. Tiffin Street heads east through residential properties and passing under a railroad with a low 13ft 2-in clearance, before an intersection with SR99. East of the intersection with SR99, SR103 has an intersection with SR598, before leaving Willard. East of Willard the highway passes through farmland, having an intersection with SR61. The intersection with SR61 is the western terminus of SR103.[4][5]
The section of SR103 that is concurrent with US23 is part of the National Highway System, a system of routes important for the nation's economy, mobility and defense.[6][7]
History
SR103 was originally signed in 1923, between Bluffton and Carey.[2][3] In 1935 the route was extended east to an intersection with SR53 near Tymochtee.[8][9] The route was extended east to an intersection with SR4 near Chatfield in 1938.[10][11] The whole route was paved by 1939.[11][12] Between 1962 and 1964, I–75 was built and open between Bluffton and Cygnet. US25 ran concurrent with I–75, leaving SR103 to replace US25 through the south side of Bluffton.[13][14] By 1969, its eastern terminus was extended to its current location, replacing the now defunct route numbers 194 and 298.[15][16] No significant changes have taken place to this state route since 1969.[5][16]
↑Natzke, Stefan; Neathery, Mike; Adderly, Kevin (September 26, 2012). "What is the National Highway System?". National Highway System. Federal Highway Administration. Retrieved February 13, 2013.
↑Official Ohio Highway Map (Map). Cartography by ODOH. Ohio Department of Highways. 1934. Retrieved February 11, 2013.
↑Official Ohio Highway Map (Map). Cartography by ODOH. Ohio Department of Highways. 1935. Retrieved February 11, 2013.
↑Official Ohio Highway Map (Map). Cartography by ODOH. Ohio Department of Highways. 1937. Retrieved February 11, 2013.
12Official Ohio Highway Map (Map). Cartography by ODOH. Ohio Department of Highways. 1938. Retrieved February 11, 2013.
↑Official Ohio Highway Map (Map). Cartography by ODOH. Ohio Department of Highways. 1939. Retrieved February 11, 2013.
↑Official Ohio Highway Map (Map). Cartography by ODOH. Ohio Department of Highways. 1962. Retrieved February 11, 2013.
↑Official Ohio Highway Map (Map). Cartography by ODOH. Ohio Department of Highways. 1964. Retrieved February 11, 2013.
↑Official Ohio Highway Map (Map). Cartography by ODOH. Ohio Department of Highways. 1967. Retrieved February 11, 2013.
12Official Ohio Highway Map (Map). Cartography by ODOH. Ohio Department of Highways. 1969. Retrieved February 11, 2013.
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