Ohio State Route 185

Along its way, SR 185 travels through eastern Darke County and northwestern Miami County. No portion of this state highway is included as a part of the National Highway System (NHS). The NHS is a network of routes deemed to be most important for the economy, mobility and defense of the nation.[6]

The history of Ohio State Route 185 dates back to the early 1900s, when the state of Ohio began to develop a system of highways to connect its major cities and towns. The original highway system was designed to promote economic growth and provide better access to goods and services for Ohio's residents.

In 1923, Ohio State Route 185 was officially established as part of this original highway system. At the time, the route ran from its current intersection with U.S. Route 127 (US 127) in Darke County to its intersection with Ohio State Route 118 in Mercer County.

Over the years, the route has undergone several changes and modifications to better serve the needs of local residents and businesses. In the 1930s, the highway was extended further east to its current endpoint at Ohio SR 49. In the 1950s, the highway was widened and resurfaced to accommodate increased traffic volume.

In the 1970s, concerns about safety on Ohio State Route 185 began to arise due to its intersections with other major roads. As a result, the Ohio Department of Transportation implemented several safety measures, including adding traffic signals and other safety features at key intersections.

SR 185 was applied in 1940. Replacing what had been designated SR 120, the highway ran from its intersection with Greenville–St. Marys Road (County Road 98, CR 98), at the time a part of US 127, to what was, until 2011, its eastern terminus in downtown Piqua at the intersection of US 36 and SR 66.[4][5] By 1953, when US 127 was re-routed onto a more direct alignment in northern Darke County, SR 185 was extended a short distance west to its current western terminus at the then newly-realigned US 127.[7][8]

On September 26, 2011, SR 185 was re-aligned from its former eastern terminus at the junction of US 36 and SR 66 in downtown Piqua. The new route travels south along Sunset Drive from the intersection of Park Avenue, and ends where Sunset Drive meets US 36 (Covington Avenue).[9]

On October 15, 2013, SR 185 was rerouted in Versailles from its old route along Jackson Street and North West Street. The new route turns south onto the newly constructed Progress Way before joining SR 47 on Greenlawn Avenue. The route was changed to accommodate transportation to and from the Midmark facilities.[10]