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Franklin County Engineer

As a local public works agency headquartered in Columbus, Ohio, the Franklin County Engineer's Office is responsible for the maintenance and construction of 271 miles of county roadway and 351 county bridges, as well as upkeep of all county ditches, drains, retention basins, and other storm water facilities within the right-of-way of county roads in unincorporated areas. To meet the continuing development and infrastructure needs of Franklin County, the Engineer's Office utilizes the latest technologies for determining and maintaining roadway centerlines and boundaries; retracing and setting new monuments for original public land surveys; preparing geographic information system mapping for real estate tax assessments; and establishing precise countywide horizontal and vertical control to maintain uniformity in construction, surveying, and mapping.
Franklin County Engineer
Franklin County Engineer
The 2025 Franklin County Fair is off to a fantastic start, and we’re so glad to be part of the fun! Day one brought plenty of smiles, painted plows, and community spirit as we celebrated Franklin County Engineer Adam W. Fowler Day. And the fun doesn’t stop there. Be sure to stop by tomorrow for Family Fun Day! We’ll have hands-on activities and more ways to connect with #TeamFCEO. Bring the whole family. We hope to see you there!
Franklin County Engineer
Franklin County Engineer
Eiterman Road over South Fork Indian Run, between Post Road and Bobcat Way, is closed to replace and widen the existing bridge to accommodate the future build-out of the Dublin throughfare plan. The closure will last approximately ninety (90) days, weather permitting.
Franklin County Engineer
Franklin County Engineer
Winchester Pike over Coble & Bowman Ditch, between Shannon Road and Bachman Road, is closed to widen the roadway and replace the existing culvert. The closure will last approximately sixty (60) days, weather permitting.
Franklin County Engineer
Franklin County Engineer
The 2025 Franklin County Fair kicks off today, and we’re thrilled to be part of the fun! Join us in celebrating Franklin County Engineer Adam W. Fowler Day! Stop by the #TeamFCEO tent to say hello, help paint the plow, enjoy some fun activities, and grab a few giveaway items while you’re there. We can’t wait to see you at the fairgrounds. Let’s make it a great start to fair week!
Franklin County Engineer
Franklin County Engineer
This morning, Engineer Fowler and #TeamFCEO hosted our Intern and Summer Help Networking Event where participants had the opportunity to connect with one another and hear from FCEO staff as they shared their diverse career paths, including a wide range of disciplines and professional experiences prior to joining FCEO. It was a valuable morning of learning, conversation, and inspiration. We’re proud to invest in the next generation entering the workforce as they explore meaningful and rewarding career paths.
Franklin County Engineer
Franklin County Engineer
The Franklin County Fair kicks off Monday, July 14, 2025. Join us on opening day for County Engineer Adam W. Fowler Day! Bring your family and friends to celebrate, help us paint a snowplow, and enjoy hands-on fun for all ages. We can’t wait to see you there!
Franklin County Engineer's Office
970 DUBLIN ROAD
COLUMBUS, OHIO 43215
(614) 525-3030
fracoeng@franklincountyengineer.org

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Highway Chronicle Chapter 1

Highway Chronicle Chapter 1

Native American Paths Serve as Early Roads

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Metropolitan Columbus has not always been a maze of highways, roads and streets. In fact, shortly after the founding of Ohio and Franklin County in 1803, the only means of travel were by buffalo traces, Native American paths, and swift flowing rivers.

‘Roads’ throughout the state were those wild thoroughfares with the fewest tree stumps, potholes and brush. But access to the central Ohio area that would become Columbus could not be denied.

One of the most significant Native American routes, adopted by pioneers, was the Scioto Trail that followed the Scioto, Little Scioto, and Sandusky Rivers from Lower Shawnee Town (Portsmouth) north to Lake Erie. The widely traveled path illustrated the economic and social importance of roadways, serving as a lifeline for the frontier settlements of Chillicothe, Franklinton, and Worthington. Proximity to the trail was a deciding factor in locating Columbus at the confluence of the Scioto and Olentangy Rivers.

A need for less cumbersome travel to Newark leads the state legislature to incorporate the Franklin Turnpike Company in 1816. Settler and surveyor Lucas Sullivant, founder of Franklinton, guided the civic organization that oversaw the joining of old trails with newly built roads to establish the area’s first official highway.

By 1820, entrepreneur Philip Zinn was operating the first weekly mail and passenger stagecoach service to Newark, Lancaster, Chillicothe, Springfield and Worthington. An early advertisement proclaimed that a trip from Cincinnati, through Dayton and Columbus, to Upper Sandusky could be made in four days, traveling 50 miles per day.