CROWN CITY -- Contractors will spend part of this week removing a large boulder measuring weighing more than 220 tons following a major slip from a hillside in Lawrence County.

"This is a big boulder," said Kathleen Fuller, Spokeswoman for Ohio Department of Transportation District 9. "It measures 10 by 40 feet. If you see a person standing next to it, the person is dwarfed by the size of the boulder."

The heavy rock broke loose and fell from a hill near the 17-mile marker on State Route 7 between Millersport and Crown City, dropping to the shoulder and ditch area of the roadway.

Akers Contracting of Ironton will do the work.

"They should be able to get it done within the week," Fuller said. "We have good weather in the forecast and they're going to break it up and haul it away."

Fuller said she doesn't believe there will be any more slippages in that area.

Although the route will remain open during the demolition and removal process, traffic will be maintained with the use of flaggers as needed.

"The boulder didn't fall on the pavement. When it fell it went straight down beside the road. The pavement wasn't damaged in any way," Fuller said. "So traffic impact should be minimal." Teresa Moore/The Ironton Tribune