TROUBLE on I-75 at Ohio River Nov 11

[rsdata]

I took I-471 north-bound from I-275 in KY to I-71 in OH and observed very little Sunday traffic in either direction.

I then took I-75 south-bound from I-275 north of Cin all the way downtown to the river. Hi-way SIGNS direct traffic to I-471 south-bound to cross the river and then use I-471 to I-275 in KY to pickup I-75/71 south-bound at the intersection south of the city near Erlanger, KY.

No radio reports of heavy traffic anywhere in the city and I did not observe any... HOWEVER there also was very little truck traffic on Sunday from 10 AM to 1 PM when I was on the interstates.

There was HEAVY traffic crossing the Clay-Wade Baily bridge ( next bridge east) for autos trying to bypass the Brent Spence bridge and get right back onto I-75 south-bound (Cin to Covington, KY). This crossing will bound to get VERY heavy come Monday.

[MLJLC4473]

Originally Posted by Jfkmk

I know people who have hit guardrails or poles and get billed for the damage. Of course that is in NJ, so it could just be a revenue generator!

That actually happens a lot in many states. In Ohio, if you are responsible for knocking down a power pole, or a guard rail, you get billed for the replacement costs of the component (pole or guard rail) including the cost to replace it by the appropriate organization typically responsible for maintaining it. Back in the 60's, and before cable was a thing, I had to pay for a telephone pole that didn't have power wires installed on it and it cost over $700 for the pole and labor to replace it and insurance wouldn't cover that cost as it wasn't a covered item in the contract. I can't imagine what it would cost in today's dollars.

[llr]

The Dayton new said that the river under the bridge was also closed. A lot of barges go through there.

[rsdata]

Latest news from KY ODOT is that Brent Spence will reopen no later than Wed DEC 23 according to the timeline currently underway. Until then all THRU traffic should plan on using I-275 around Cincinnati or I-471 bridge east of the city to I-275.

I was not on the interstate today... traffic on the radio was reported to be heavy on the southern I-275 section but not backed up ( STOP and GO) or quite as bad as last week, as many locals have figured out other routes to take and use local bridges to cross the OHIO River.

It seems like weekend traffic is normal when trucks are not jamming the roads.

[rsdata]

I-275 southern part of that route thru KY was heavy but not stop and go until you got within a mile of the I-275 and I-75/71 interchange in Erlanger, KY. Traffic was moving although that interchange although slowly. Rush hour traffic backs up even more, like 2 miles, but not like it was last week.

It appears that local drivers are staying off the I-275 KY interstate, relieving some of the congestion from last week. I-471 north and south-bound traffic is heavy but not stop and go today like it was last week, although it gets very heavy during rush hours as it is a major local commuter roadway.

Today's news said that NO MAJOR structural damage to the bridge occurred in the fire last week, but that the upper deck south-bound will have a 200 foot section of pavement completely removed and replaced with a target re-opening date of Dec 23. Both north and south lanes ARE CLOSED to all interstate I-75/71 traffic.

[rsdata]

I traveled the southern I-275 loop today around 10 AM. Surprisingly, although traffic was heavy it was moving with a small backup at the I-275 to I-75/71 south-bound interchange.

I-471 south-bound was reported heavy, but moving on the morning rush hour radio reports.

I did notice backed up north-bound I-75/71 KY traffic approaching the I-275 interchange... the backup was about 2 miles around noon today. But again, traffic was moving slowly northward. There are some orange barrels in this area which does not help.

All north-bound traffic is being diverted to the KY I-275 loop either east or west with most traffic taking the shorter eastern route. If taking the east-bound I-275 loop you could opt to exit (LEFT) to I-471 north to catch I-71. You can also catch I-75 using I-471 by crossing the OHIO river and crossing Cin. city center ( SLOW) west bound to catch I-75 north of the river. Personally I would bypass the inner-city routes connecting I-71 to I-75 and use the I-275 northern section connecting the two via the I-275 northern path.

AVOID weekday RUSH HOURS if you can at all costs. As I saw this weekend, weekend traffic was not that bad. Of course all bets are off if there is an accident anywhere on these routes.

[Chuck_S]

For those without a clue that I75 crossing the Ohio River is neither near Miami nor Sault Ste. Marie you have no concerns here. Although I worry about what attention you paid in junior high school.

-- Chuck

[Roger Baxter]

As of yesterday - 11-18-2020 - Kentucky announced that the bridge would be closed until 12-23-2020. They expect to be able to open it then. If you are unfamiliar with the Cincinnati area, your easiest (but longest) route is to take I275 WEST (toward the airport) whether you are coming from the north or the south sides. I live about 30 mi East of Cincinnati, and I almost always take that route to avoid the continual traffic jam that is Cincinnati. My motorhome and heavy bumper to bumper traffic don't go well together.

[kluza2786]

Originally Posted by Roger Baxter

As of yesterday - 11-18-2020 - Kentucky announced that the bridge would be closed until 12-23-2020. They expect to be able to open it then. If you are unfamiliar with the Cincinnati area, your easiest (but longest) route is to take I275 WEST (toward the airport) whether you are coming from the north or the south sides. I live about 30 mi East of Cincinnati, and I almost always take that route to avoid the continual traffic jam that is Cincinnati. My motorhome and heavy bumper to bumper traffic don't go well together.

We lived in Morrow for 19 years (northeast from Cincinnati and Batavia) and always took I275 EAST. Just curious as to why you're going west on I275 when you live east of the city?

[Roger Baxter]

We have a lot of relatives in Indiana, and often head in that direction. Even though 275 East is shorter, there are almost always traffic problems from Milford to the I75 juncture.

[rsdata]

your easiest (but longest) route is to take I275 WEST (toward the airport)

though 275 East is shorter, there are almost always traffic problems from Milford to the I75 juncture.

and there you have your answer... I-275 EAST is often tied up as you get closer to the I-71 interchange... if you like to keep moving, rather than be in stop and go traffic, then I-275 West toward Indiana has fewer tie ups.

[rsdata]

Drove I-275 southern leg today, from I-471 to I-275/I-75/71 interchange in KY and traffic moved slowly but steadily going south-bound at 10 AM this morning.

I-75/71 north-bound from Union KY exit north to I-275 East or West was stop and go for about 2 miles, but moving.

Have a safe holiday trip.

[rsdata]

Very heavy stop and go traffic north bound AND south bound on I-471 and I-275 southern leg at 3 PM today. I heard AM radio traffic reports of heavy traffic most all day, and observed it my self from an overpass.

Could be a tough holiday traffic jam coming.

IF traveling SOUTH, again I mention using I-471 south to where it ends onto US Rt 27 south in Highland Heights KY as a viable alternative to traveling south to Lexington then back onto I-75 south bound. After about 6 miles of city traffic you will wind up on 2 and 4 lane rural roads with a city every 20 miles or so to gas up in and such. Relaxed driving at 55 MPH.

[rsdata]

I have traveled the I-471 and I-275 southern route interstates a few times the past 4 days.

Traffic has been heavy but moving. Even the 275/75/71 southern interchange where the biggest bottleneck in the area is has been moving south-bound pretty well.

The worst section is north-bound I-75/71 to the 275 interchange in Erlanger, KY. Backups start close to US Rt 42 and gets really heavy by the time you hit Turfway Rd exit all the way to Erlanger. The entire freeway is backed up to the I-275 West/East split. DECIDE early and get to the left to use I-275 WEST or stay right to use I-275 EAST.

I believe that most local traffic avoids the Erlanger interstate interchange as the local roads in that area also have heavy traffic. AVOID Cincinnati during rush hours and you should be good.

[rsdata]

I-471 north and south bound traffic from I-275 (southern section) to I-71 in Ohio remains heavier than usual but is moving most of the time. The heaviest traffic is north-bound from KY I-75/71 north to the I-275 east AND west-bound interchange in Erlanger, KY, but this is aggravated because of construction in that area. The backup thru the interchange is usually less than 15 minutes for that 2-3 mile stretch. Once on I-275 the traffic opens up a bit. Stay away from rush-hour travel if you can.

A new website was put up to keep the public informed of the progress of the re-construction of the Brent-Spence bridge over the Ohio River at Cincinnati.

https://brentspencerepair.com/

[MCTroy]

Thanks for the link and updates.