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.
Obstacles included the Muskingum River at Zanesville,  of excavation through the solid sandstone of the Blackhand Gorge along the Licking River between Zanesville and Newark, and substantial amounts of fill and bridge work along the Big Walnut Creek.