{{Short description|State highway in Ohio, US}} {{Use American English|date=April 2025}} {{Use mdy dates|date=January 2025}} {{Infobox road |state=OH |type=SR |route=444 |length_mi=8.43 |length_ref=<ref name="sld">{{cite web |url=http://www.dot.state.oh.us/Divisions/Planning/TechServ/TIM/Pages/Straight-Line-Diagrams.aspx |title=Technical Services Straight Line Diagrams |author=Ohio Department of Transportation |author-link=Ohio Department of Transportation |accessdate=April 30, 2010}}</ref> |map={{maplink|frame=yes|plain=yes|frame-align=center|frame-width=290|frame-height=240|type=line|raw={{Wikipedia:Map data/Wikipedia KML/Ohio State Route 444}}}} |map_custom=yes |map_notes=SR 444 highlighted in red |established=1959 |direction_a=South |terminus_a={{jct|state=OH|SR|4}} in Dayton |junction= |direction_b=North |terminus_b={{jct|state=OH|I|675}} near Fairborn |counties=Montgomery, Greene, Clark |previous_type=OH 1960 |previous_route=440 |next_type=SR |next_route=446 }}
'''State Route 444''' ('''SR 444''', '''Ohio 444''') is an {{convert|8.43|mi|km|adj=on}} state route that runs from Dayton through Fairborn in the US state of Ohio. Most of the north–south signed route is an urban four-lane highway which passes through both commercial and residential properties. For some of its path, SR 444 passes through Wright-Patterson Air Force Base.
The highway was first signed in 1959 on much the same alignment as today. SR 444 replaced the SR 4 designation of the highway, which dated back to 1927. In 1927, SR 4 replaced SR 52, which was established in 1923. The northern terminus was moved to its current location when a section of Interstate 675 (I–675) opened in 1976. In 2012 a section of the road was rerouted away from the base, using city streets in Fairborn.
==Route description== SR 444 begins at an interchange on SR 4, in Montgomery County. The highway heads southeast as a four-lane divided highway, passing through woodland and entering Greene County. The road passes through Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, then curves northeast, having an interchange with SR 844. SR 444 turns southeast crossing a railroad track, before turning northeast again, as a two-lane highway. The highway heads northeast through Fairborn, passing residential properties, before curving due north and becoming a four-lane undivided highway. As the highway heads north it crosses the railroad track again. The route turns due west towards the base, before turning due north. SR 444 begins a concurrency with SR 235, west of downtown Fairborn. The concurrency heads northeast, passing through commercial properties, before SR 235 turns due north. SR 444 continues northeast, passing through commercial properties, before becoming a two-lane highway. As a two-lane highway SR 444 passes through woodland, before having an interchange with I–675. This interchange is the northern terminus of SR 444.<ref name="google maps">{{google maps|url=https://maps.google.com/maps?saddr=OH-444+N&daddr=39.8068617,-84.0298151+to:39.822291,-84.027662+to:Unknown+road&hl=en&sll=39.848155,-83.992882&sspn=0.002426,0.004823&geocode=FQtSXwIdpK78-g%3BFY1nXwIdic79-iktY5pCwp1AiDECslZTg4ClJw%3BFdOjXwId8tb9-imvJcqu8J1AiDE6KFLaa7_tqg%3BFZ4MYAIdElv--g&mra=dme&mrsp=3&sz=18&via=1,2&t=h&z=18|title=Overview of Ohio State Route 444|accessdate= February 26, 2013}}</ref><ref name="ODOT 2011">{{cite map |title=Ohio Highway Map |url=http://www.dot.state.oh.us/maps/11MapFiles/Front-11-PDF.pdf |format=PDF |publisher=Ohio Department of Transportation |date=2011 |cartography=ODOT |accessdate= February 26, 2013}}</ref>
SR 444 is designated "Freedom Memorial Highway", in honor of the 52 U.S. hostages held for 444 days during the 1979-1981 Iran hostage crisis and of the eight service members who died during a 1980 rescue attempt.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://codes.ohio.gov/orc/5533.56 | title = 5533.56 Freedom memorial highway | author = Ohio Revised Code | author-link = Ohio Revised Code | date = July 5, 1982 | accessdate = April 20, 2013}}</ref>
The entire length of SR 444 is part of the National Highway System, a system of routes important to the nation's economy, mobility and defense.<ref name="NHS Map of Ohio">{{cite map |title=National Highway System: Dayton, Ohio |date=December 2003 |publisher=Federal Highway Administration |url=https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/planning/national_highway_system/nhs_maps/ohio/dayton_oh.pdf |format=PDF|access-date=February 26, 2013}}</ref><ref name=NHS>{{cite web |first1= Stefan |last1= Natzke |first2= Mike |last2= Neathery |first3= Kevin |last3= Adderly |url= https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/planning/national_highway_system/ |title= What is the National Highway System? |work= National Highway System |date= September 26, 2012 |publisher=Federal Highway Administration|access-date=February 26, 2013}}</ref> The highway is maintained by the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT).
==History== In 1923 the route that became SR 444 was signed as SR 52.<ref name="ODOT1922_map">{{cite map |title=Official Ohio Highway Map |url=http://www.dot.state.oh.us/Divisions/Planning/TechServ/TIM/Pages/OfficialTransportationMaps.aspx|publisher=Ohio Department of Highways and Public Works |date=1922 |cartography=ODOHPW |accessdate=February 26, 2013}}</ref><ref name="ODOT1923_map">{{cite map |title=Official Ohio Highway Map |url=http://www.dot.state.oh.us/Divisions/Planning/TechServ/TIM/Pages/OfficialTransportationMaps.aspx|publisher=Ohio Department of Highways and Public Works |date=1923 |cartography=ODOHPW |accessdate=February 26, 2013}}</ref> SR 52 was changed to SR 4 in 1927.<ref name="ODOT1926_map">{{cite map |title=Official Ohio Highway Map |url=http://www.dot.state.oh.us/Divisions/Planning/TechServ/TIM/Pages/OfficialTransportationMaps.aspx|publisher=Ohio Department of Highways and Public Works |date=1926 |cartography=ODOHPW |accessdate=February 26, 2013}}</ref><ref name="ODOT1927_map">{{cite map |title=Official Ohio Highway Map |url=http://www.dot.state.oh.us/Divisions/Planning/TechServ/TIM/Pages/OfficialTransportationMaps.aspx|publisher=Ohio Department of Highways |date=1927 |cartography=ODOH |accessdate=February 26, 2013}}</ref> SR 444 was originally signed in 1959, from its current southern terminus to Interstate 70, at the time it was U.S. Route 40.<ref name="ODOT1958_map">{{cite map |title=Official Ohio Highway Map |url=http://www.dot.state.oh.us/Divisions/Planning/TechServ/TIM/Pages/OfficialTransportationMaps.aspx|publisher=Ohio Department of Highways |date=1958 |cartography=ODOH |accessdate=February 26, 2013}}</ref><ref name="ODOT1959_map">{{cite map |title=Official Ohio Highway Map |url=http://www.dot.state.oh.us/Divisions/Planning/TechServ/TIM/Pages/OfficialTransportationMaps.aspx|publisher=Ohio Department of Highways |date=1959 |cartography=ODOH |accessdate=February 26, 2013}}</ref> The northern terminus moved to its current position in 1976, when Interstate 675 was completed and signed along the alignment from SR 444’s current northern terminus north to I–70.<ref name="ODOT1975_map">{{cite map |title=Official Ohio Highway Map |url=http://www.dot.state.oh.us/Divisions/Planning/TechServ/TIM/Pages/OfficialTransportationMaps.aspx|publisher=Ohio Department of Transportation |date=1975 |cartography=ODOT |accessdate=February 26, 2013}}</ref><ref name="ODOT1976_map">{{cite map |title=Official Ohio Highway Map |url=http://www.dot.state.oh.us/Divisions/Planning/TechServ/TIM/Pages/OfficialTransportationMaps.aspx|publisher=Ohio Department of Transportation |date=1976 |cartography=ODOT |accessdate=February 26, 2013}}</ref> In 2012, WPAFB extended its boundary; on October 9 of that year, the portion of route that would otherwise run through WPAFB was rerouted through Fairborn.<ref name="SR 444 route changed in and around WPAFB">{{ cite news | last = Matthews | first = Steven | title = Wright-Patterson closes portion of Ohio 444 for security reasons | newspaper = Dayton Daily News | date = October 10, 2012 | url = http://www.daytondailynews.com/news/news/wright-patterson-closes-portion-of-ohio-444-for-se/nSYZN/ | accessdate = October 13, 2012 }}</ref>
==Major intersections== {{OHinttop|length_ref=<ref name="sld"/>}} {{OHint |county=Montgomery |location=Dayton |mile=0.00 |road={{Jct|state=OH|OH|4|city1=New Carlisle|city2=Dayton|road|Valley Pike}} |notes=Interchange}} {{OHint |type=incomplete |county=Greene |cspan=4 |township=Bath |ctdab=Greene |mile=0.65 |road=Springfield Street west |notes=Interchange, northbound entrance / southbound exit only}} {{OHint |location=Fairborn |lspan=3 |mile=3.16 |road={{Jct|state=OH|OH|844|I|675|to2=to|location1=Wright-Patterson Air Force Base}} |notes=Interchange}} {{OHint |mile=5.79 |type=concur |road={{Jct|state=OH|OH|235|dir1=south|name1=Xenia Drive}} |notes=Southern end of SR 235 concurrency}} {{OHint |mile=6.45 |type=concur |road={{Jct|state=OH|OH|235|dir1=north|name1=Central Avenue}} |notes=Northern end of SR 235 concurrency}} {{OHint |county1=Greene |county2=Clark |township1=Bath |ctdab1=Greene |township2=Mad River |ctdab2=Clark |road={{Jct|state=OH|I|675|to2=yes|I|70|city1=Cincinnati|city2=Columbus|road|Dayton-Springfield Road}} |mile=8.09 |mile2=8.43 |notes=Exit 24 (I-675)}} {{OHintbtm|keys=concur,incomplete}}
==References== {{Reflist|2}}
==External links== {{Attached KML|display=title,inline}} *[https://web.archive.org/web/20050826102522/http://www.state-ends.com/ohio/oh444/ State Route 444 Endpoint Photos]
444 Category:Transportation in Montgomery County, Ohio Category:Transportation in Greene County, Ohio Category:Transportation in Clark County, Ohio