ZANESVILLE, Ohio (WCMH) — Much has been said and written about the “Hell is Real” sign on Interstate 71 between Columbus and Cincinnati, but another sign between Zanesville and Dresden has drawn the ire of an NBC4 viewer due to its unintentional connection to the underworld.
Lifelong Zanesville resident Paula Sowers wrote to NBC4 recommending that State Route 666’s name be changed. Sowers became particularly irritated with the sign when construction made it a detour number on State Route 60.
“Why, oh, why isn’t my hometown, Zanesville, Ohio, renaming [State Route] 666?” wrote Sowers. “They advertise it as a detour on [State Route] 60. It needs to be renamed or assigned different numbers.”
Often considered an “evil” number, due to its reference as the “mark of the beast” in the Bible’s Book of Revelation, 666 has become a symbol of the Antichrist. According to Bible.com, Revelation 13:18 states, “Let him who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man: His number is 666.”
“All of these comments are my opinions,” Sowers said. “I don’t know what the intentions of the state of Ohio are. I only know that these signs are posted with these numbers, and these numbers make me uncomfortable.”
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Photo Courtesy/Paula Sowers -
Photo Courtesy/Paula Sowers -
Photo Courtesy/Paula Sowers -
Photo Courtesy/Paula Sowers -
Photo Courtesy/Paula Sowers
Chas Cosgrave, public information officer for the Ohio Department of Transportation’s District 5, looked into the matter and explained why modifying a road’s assigned number is difficult, if not impossible.
“Short answer, yes, a state route number can be changed, but it’s rare and only done when there’s a clear transportation need,” Cosgrave said. “Regarding SR 666 near Zanesville, currently, we do not have a logistical reason to change the route designation. State route numbers are established and maintained for consistency, wayfinding, and historical reference. While we understand the concerns raised, simply reassigning a number without a practical transportation need is not something we typically pursue.”
However, there is a precedent for renumbering a road named 666. The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Highway Administration website reveals that in 2003, after years of public outcry and concerns from residents, lawmakers and travelers, New Mexico, working with Colorado and Utah, petitioned to change U.S. Route 666.
Since the number was widely associated with Satan, some people avoided the highway entirely, which fueled the stigma that hurt the local economy. Safety concerns and the road’s reputation as “cursed” added further urgency. With approval from the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials, the route was ultimately redesignated as U.S. 491 on May 31, 2003.
To rename a road in Ohio, Cosgrave detailed the four steps of the process, beginning with identifying a transportation need, such as a new roadway alignment, safety or operational issues, or a jurisdictional change.
Next, ODOT staff must conduct an engineering and wayfinding review to evaluate numbering consistency, signing, emergency response, and impacts to property addresses and mapping. This step also accounts for the cost of replacing all roadway signs that display the previous numbering.
If a renumbering is justified, ODOT formalizes it through a Director’s Journal Entry and coordinates the signage and mapping changes. Finally, the implementation phase updates guide and route marker signs, traveler information systems and mapping partners to ensure what drivers see in the field is consistent and accurate statewide.
“I understand … the difficulty that might occur to have it switched out, but I think it’s an important thing to do, even if it takes some time,” Sowers said.
Unfortunately, persistent roadwork on State Route 666 is the source of the constant detour signs Sowers sees so often in Zanesville.
“I’m still wondering also why the triple 6 route is always under construction or maintenance, which then warrants detour signs to be permanently placed on Maple Avenue,” Sowers said.
The answer to this question turns out to be that “SR 666 itself poses unique challenges.” Cosgrave noted that the area alongside the Muskingum River traverses several dense woodlands. This means its location necessitates maintenance operations, like embankment repairs and tree trimming, to ensure the roadway’s longevity and traveler safety.
See Ohio’s formal process for roadway renaming below:
