CHILLICOTHE, Ohio – Barricades came down Monday as the new roundabout at Mill Street and Yoctangee Parkway opened to traffic, and a local businessman is urging drivers to stay alert for a crosswalk he describes as a blind spot near schools.
Ryan Wiley shared a photo and message on social media noting the removal of barricades from Yoctangee Parkway. He asked people to “say a prayer for the kids crossing this blind crosswalk they put in in front of my office door.”
Wiley is with Perfection Plus Quality Collision Repair Center, the family-owned auto body shop at 173 Mill Street near the intersection.
The roundabout forms part of the larger Appalachian Community Grant Program improvements around Yoctangee Park. City officials and local reports indicate the intersection work includes new roadway paving, sidewalks, curbs, gutters, pavement markings, pedestrian crossings, and updated traffic signs. The design aims to improve traffic flow, reduce crash risks, and provide safer routes for pedestrians at a key connection between downtown, Yoctangee Park, neighborhoods, and nearby schools.
Chillicothe Middle School and High School sit along Yoctangee Parkway. Officials previously noted coordination with the school district on bus routes and access during construction, with the project intended in part to enhance safety for students walking in the area. A school-zone focus has historically included monitoring on Yoctangee Parkway during arrival and dismissal times.
Construction on the southbound lanes of Yoctangee Parkway between Arch Street and Chestnut Street, including the Mill and Park Street intersections, began in mid-March 2026. Northbound lanes stayed open in a reduced configuration for much of the work, with full closure of the intersection occurring over the summer once the school year ended. Access for nearby residents and businesses continued via alleyways and rear entrances. The project wraps as the new school year approaches.
Wiley’s post highlights a practical concern from someone who works at the intersection daily: visibility for the newly marked crosswalk once temporary barriers are gone. Drivers navigating the fresh pavement and circular design should watch carefully for pedestrians, particularly students, and obey all new signage and markings.
The city has described the completed pedestrian features as contributing to safer and more accessible routes. Local motorists are advised to approach the area with extra caution in the coming days as traffic patterns adjust and school activities resume.
Perfection Plus Quality Collision Repair Center has served Chillicothe residents for more than three decades with collision repair, glass work, and related services from its Mill Street location. Supporting local businesses remains important as the surrounding infrastructure updates take shape.
