Football Fans Destined for Y-City

Expect traffic tie ups in Zanesville starting Friday as football fans from all over the area and state make their way to the Y-city.

Zanesville Police expect as many as eight to ten thousand football fans will travel to Sulsberger Stadium over the next two days. The facility’s hosting two playoff games, one Friday night and one Saturday night.

Friday’s match-up features two unbeaten teams the Tri-Valley Scotties and the Athens Bulldogs. Saturday Bishop Hartley and St. Clairsville kick-off.

"We’ve set up traffic boards and everything and tried to establish routes for the different schools coming in to the city," said Zanesville Police Chief Kenneth Miller.

In order to establish routes for the fans Zanesville Police worked with the Ohio Department of Transportation, Muskingum County Emergency Management Agency and the city in order to get the traffic boards in place.

Traffic signals will be timed to help with the flow of traffic and an off-duty officer will help direct traffic on Blue Avenue. But, residents can also help.

"We’re still going to have a lot of traffic back up on Blue," explained Chief Miller. "We’re asking local residents to try and avoid Blue Avenue Friday and Saturday."

If you’re traveling in from Athens for Friday’s game at Sulsberger your detour is: Maysville Pike to Pershing Avenue to Brighton Blvd up State Street to Blue Avenue.

Gates for Friday’s Scotties vs. Bulldogs game will open at 5pm for those attending the game.

Saturday both Bishop Hartley and St. Clairsville will be coming in from the interstate. St. Clairsville fans will take Maple Avenue to Taylor Street to Blue Avenue. An off-duty officer will direct traffic at Maple and Taylor to help traffic make the left hand turn.

You could also see increased traffic on the Maysville Pike Saturday as the Maysville Athletic Complex hosts a playoff game between Shadyside and Paint Valley. New Lexington’s Football field will be in use as Trimble takes on Caldwell also on Saturday.