Ohio State Route 96 runs east-west connecting Bucyrus to Ashland, bypassing Mansfield to the north. As Ohio Route 98 departs Bucyrus toward the northeast, it meets an interchange with US Route 30, and soon after that, it meets the western end of Ohio Route 96. Ohio Route 96 heads east from there, paralleling US Route 30 to the north, roughly speaking. Ohio Route 96 meets Ohio Route 39 and Ohio Route 61 as it passes through the heart of Shelby, Ohio. During its last few moments, Ohio Route 96 serves downtown Ashland, while US Route 42 and US Route 250 bypass Ashland on either side. Ohio Route 96 continues to the east side of Ashland, where US Route 250 comes from the northwest, and US Route 42 comes from the southwest. US Route 42 continues north, but US Route 250 turns easterly toward Interstate 71, taking over Ohio Route 96's eastward alignment. This forces Ohio Route 96 to conclude.
My photo of Ohio State Route 96 signage comes from downtown Ashland, where it meets Ohio Route 60 and Ohio Route 511. Ohio Routes 60 and 511 stay concurrent with each other through Ashland. The street taking those routes north into Ashland is where you'll find the scene in the photograph. The aperture looks north at a junction marker that can help travelers on Ohio Routes 60 and 511 to anticipate the turn onto Ohio Route 96. This photo was taken in October 2022, during the last piece of my tour around northeastern Ohio.