Obstacles included the Muskingum River at Zanesville,  of excavation through the hard sandstone of the Blackhand Gorge along the Licking River between Zanesville and Newark, and large quantities of fill and trestle work along the Big Walnut Creek.
The Muskingum River at Zanesville posed an obstacle, as did excavating through hard sandstone in the Blackhand Gorge along the Licking River from Zanesville to Newark. Additionally, there was significant fill and trestle construction along the Big Walnut Creek.