State Route 43 (SR 43) is a mainly north–south state highway that runs through the northeastern quadrant of the U.S. state of Ohio. Its southern terminus is at a signalized intersection with State Route 7 along the Ohio River in Steubenville, and its western terminus is approximately to the north at Public Square in Cleveland. It is one of ten routes to enter Public Square.
Created in the mid-1920s, State Route 43 starts out in Steubenville, and runs northwesterly to Canton via Carrollton. From Canton, the highway runs northerly through Kent and Streetsboro to Aurora, where it then turns northwesterly through Solon, Ohio, and continues passing through suburban Cleveland before entering the city proper, and coming to an end in downtown at Public Square. For its northernmost stretch of less than , State Route 43 shares the same portion of pavement as four other highways at the same time: U.S. Route 422, State Route 8, State Route 14 and State Route 87. The five routes share a common endpoint in the middle of Public Square, where they intersect the triplex of U.S. Route 6, U.S. Route 42 and State Route 3.
Route description
State Route 43 runs through the counties of Jefferson, Carroll, Stark, Portage, Geauga and Cuyahoga.
The portion of State Route 43 beginning with its concurrent section with U.S. Route 30 in Canton, north through Kent and to Aurora, then northwest to the State Route 91 junction in Solon is included within the National Highway System, a system of highways deemed most important for the country's economy, defense and mobility.
Jefferson County
Beginning in Jefferson County at its southern terminus at a signalized intersection with State Route 7 in Steubenville along the Ohio River and the Ohio-West Virginia border across from Weirton, West Virginia, State Route 43 follows Washington Street northwesterly before becoming a short divided highway just west of downtown. State Route 43 then becomes Sunset Boulevard, and heads westerly into Wintersville, where it is known as Main Street. The state highway then departs the town to the northwest along Canton Road, leading up to a diamond interchange with the U.S. Route 22 freeway. State Route 43 next runs northwesterly into the village of Richmond, where it is briefly co-signed with State Route 152. State Route 43 then trends westerly into the unincorporated community of East Springfield, before turning northerly and passing through the small village of Amsterdam, where it is briefly joined by State Route 164. State Route 43 departs Jefferson County as it exits the village to the northwest, and enters into Carroll County.
Carroll County
State Route 43 is almost entirely rural in Carroll County, where it runs northwesterly into Harlem Springs along Steubenville Road, then turns westerly to its junction with State Route 9. The two highways then converge, and run northwesterly into Carrollton. State Route 9 and State Route 43 meet State Route 39 on the eastern outskirts of town, and the three highways run together northwesterly along East Main Street into downtown Carrollton and the triplex's junction with State Route 332, where State Route 9 departs to the north via North Lisbon Street. State Route 39 and State Route 43 then continue together along West Main Street to the Canton Road intersection, where State Route 43 splits from State Route 39, and follows Canton Road northerly out of Carrollton. The state route turns northwesterly, and comes to its eastern intersection with State Route 183 just east of Malvern. The two state routes run westerly through Malvern along Canal Street, then onto Alliance Road after departing the village, and ultimately to the point where they cross into Stark County.
Stark County
Into Stark County, State Route 43 jointly heads westerly with State Route 183 to the T-intersection that marks their western split just north of Waynesburg. Turning north, State Route 43 soon meets State Route 44 at its southern terminus. Turning northwesterly into rural Sandy Township, State Route 43 makes its way up into Canton. In Canton, running just to the east of, but never intersecting Interstate 77, State Route 43 has junctions with U.S. Route 30, State Route 172, State Route 153 and U.S. Route 62. State Route 43 then enters Plain Township, and passes northerly through a portion of Lake Township prior to entering Hartville, where it meets State Route 619. After duplexing with State Route 619 for a short distance westerly, State Route 43 turns northerly again, and enters into Portage County.