Has anyone gone on the entire beltway of I-275 through Ohio Kentucky and Indiana ?
I've been on the western half.
At least 44 have clinched I-275 according to Travel Mapping. (https://travelmapping.net/hb/showroute.php?units=miles&u=markkos1992&r=ky.i275&cr)
I clinched it, but not in a single trip. Last section for me was the short segment between the airport and creation museum exits.
Quote from: MinecraftNinja on March 17, 2021, 03:40:35 PM
I've been on the western half.
Yeah, me too. Every trip I've made to Cincinnati has been from Indiana or Kentucky, and almost always with passengers who aren't interested in a random jaunt around the eastern half.
Quote from: doglover44 on March 17, 2021, 03:29:37 PM
Has anyone gone on the entire beltway of I-275 through Ohio Kentucky and Indiana ?
I have, although not in one go. Once, driving home I did the eastern side (from I-71/75 around counterclockwise to I-74), and then coming back I did the western, with a bit of backtracking the second time to satisfy my clinching rules.
I've used it on the western half in Ohio and the eastern half in Ohio, never used it in Indiana or Kentucky though.
I think the Interstate 275 beltway should have been shorter. At 83.71 miles, it just seems to go all over the place. Was it impossible to build a shorter beltway, such as like the Interstate 270 beltway around Columbus?
Lawrenceburg, IN has remained at the same population since 1950, while the nation as a whole has grown. However, since that number is about 5,000 people, I'm not sure if it was really considered important enough even in 1950.
Quote from: The Ghostbuster on March 17, 2021, 05:43:15 PM
I think the Interstate 275 beltway should have been shorter. At 83.71 miles, it just seems to go all over the place. Was it impossible to build a shorter beltway, such as like the Interstate 270 beltway around Columbus?
Originally, it was intended to cross the river on the west side at Cleves, except it was extended out more because Lawrenceburg, IN (and the Indiana side of the Cincy metro in general) wanted access to the beltway and an Ohio River crossing.
Yes, but not in one sitting.
I have only been to the casinos and the creation museum want to check it out further
I've only been on a quarter of it, but that quarter touched all three states.
Yep, did this about 30 years ago...when I used to live there...and not all in one sitting.
More familiar with the north and west sides. My family used to go out to Lawrenceburg and take highway 50 out to Seymour before heading south to Tennessee on I-65. Later on, we exclusively took I-71, so not sure why we did that.
I did in two or three chunks.
Living in Cincinnati I've made the loop multiple times, either in chunks or at least twice wound up driving the loop.
At Christmas time 2001 I got on 275 from 75 and headed over to Eastgate for a present, wasn't there, had to go to the Northern Kentucky store, then over to Northgate Mall for something else. Then home after circling the city.
Only two parts. On the north side, the short stretch between I-75 and I-71, and from US-50 on the east side south then west to I-71/75.
Back in the late 70s, after the final section opened, my buddy and I took the entire circle, just because we could.
Living in the area, I have been on all sections multiple times, but never again have I done it all at once.
Quote from: SkyPesos on March 17, 2021, 06:06:45 PM
Quote from: The Ghostbuster on March 17, 2021, 05:43:15 PM
I think the Interstate 275 beltway should have been shorter. At 83.71 miles, it just seems to go all over the place. Was it impossible to build a shorter beltway, such as like the Interstate 270 beltway around Columbus?
Originally, it was intended to cross the river on the west side at Cleves, except it was extended out more because Lawrenceburg, IN (and the Indiana side of the Cincy metro in general) wanted access to the beltway and an Ohio River crossing.
Cleves is already shockingly far west. Why not cross at Taylorsport, or the airport?
Quote from: Evan_Th on March 19, 2021, 02:25:20 PM
Quote from: SkyPesos on March 17, 2021, 06:06:45 PM
Quote from: The Ghostbuster on March 17, 2021, 05:43:15 PM
I think the Interstate 275 beltway should have been shorter. At 83.71 miles, it just seems to go all over the place. Was it impossible to build a shorter beltway, such as like the Interstate 270 beltway around Columbus?
Originally, it was intended to cross the river on the west side at Cleves, except it was extended out more because Lawrenceburg, IN (and the Indiana side of the Cincy metro in general) wanted access to the beltway and an Ohio River crossing.
Cleves is already shockingly far west. Why not cross at Taylorsport, or the airport?
Two issues: development and Cincinnati's topography.
I'm only missing the southwest quarter of it, from 75 to the Indiana exit
Yes, definitely from my years living in Cincinnati (more specifically, the east side of Cincinnati, Oakley).
The portion I used the MOST was likely from I-71/I-75 to the Airport.
The portion I used the LEAST was likely from I-74 northeast to I-75.
Definitely done the whole thing, but probably not in one sitting. Although... maybe.
Quote from: keithvh on March 22, 2021, 12:38:39 PM
The portion I used the LEAST was likely from I-74 northeast to I-75.
That happens to be one of the portions I use pretty often, as I'm in the Mason area of the metro. Pretty much the main routing to connect where I am to I-74 west towards Indy.
My least used portion is the part between the Airport and I-74 along the west loop.
the portion in indiana never made any sense even on day one.
Yes, however, not in one sitting. The furthest around in one shot was from where I-275 joins I-74 east of Harrison, OH to the Taylor Mill, KY interchange going north and east around Cincinnati, a distance of 54 miles. Just because I needed to cool down after work one evening.
Quote from: silverback1065 on March 29, 2021, 09:33:25 PM
the portion in indiana never made any sense even on day one.
It makes about as much sense as having the Interstate between Indianapolis & Cincinnati signed as I-74 instead of I-68 (since it's SOUTH of I-70). An added benefit would have been not having to have multiplexed I-74 along the west & south legs of I-465 in Indy.
Maybe as part of the proposed Infrastructure bill we could convince the powers that be to extend I-68 west from Morgantown, WV to Indy, via I-79, US 50, OH 32, & I-275, then rename existing I-74 between Cincy & Indy. Most of that route is already 4-lane divided expressway, with many parts already full-freeway. As a bonus, the abomination of I-74 in North Carolina could then be eliminated forever!
I don't know that I've done it in one trip (that was a goal of mine for a long time), but I have driven it completely.
About the need to go into Indiana: http://bridgestunnels.com/location/carroll-lee-cropper-bridge/
"The planning for a freeway beltway around Cincinnati, Ohio began in earnest in the early 1950s, and separate plans in Ohio and Kentucky eventually merged to form the Greater Cincinnati Metropolitan Area Bypass.
Renamed as the Circle Freeway by the late 1950s, the project conflicted with a plan for a toll bridge between Petersburg, Kentucky, and Lawrenceburg, Indiana. That proposal began in April 1956 when U.S. Representative Earl Wilson of Indiana introduced a bill for the establishment of the Lawrenceburg Bridge Company, which would be in charge of building a new bridge with a bond issue and paying the bond off with tolls. The bill passed, but with costs of construction estimated at $10 million for the new bridge, progress was slow.
Unsurprisingly, officials in both states were concerned that the proposed Circle Freeway would reduce traffic on the proposed Kentucky-Indiana connection by 40%.
As the result of the potential impact toward the bridge, Kentucky and Indiana officials began a drive to move the Circle Freeway's alignment ten miles west to include the proposed alignment of the toll bridge. The bridge could be built without tolls, financed with 90% federal funds as part of the Interstate Highway System. Although the proposal received the support of Boone County Judge Carroll Cropper and Wilson, the idea was downplayed by Ohio officials who lamented the loss of industrial development along the freeway."
Quote from: SSR_317 on April 03, 2021, 07:44:15 PM
Quote from: silverback1065 on March 29, 2021, 09:33:25 PM
the portion in indiana never made any sense even on day one.
It makes about as much sense as having the Interstate between Indianapolis & Cincinnati signed as I-74 instead of I-68 (since it's SOUTH of I-70). An added benefit would have been not having to have multiplexed I-74 along the west & south legs of I-465 in Indy.
I'm fine with interstates being out of grid, as long as there's a portion of it in grid. Like I-74 is in its grid position 3/4 of the way. Also I-71, which is east of I-75 in Ohio, is fine. I don't see a need to change a diagonal interstate's number every time it crosses a straight one, or else a route like I-95 would be broken up into about 6 different numbered pieces.
Quote from: SkyPesos on April 04, 2021, 12:02:01 AM
Quote from: SSR_317 on April 03, 2021, 07:44:15 PM
Quote from: silverback1065 on March 29, 2021, 09:33:25 PM
the portion in indiana never made any sense even on day one.
It makes about as much sense as having the Interstate between Indianapolis & Cincinnati signed as I-74 instead of I-68 (since it's SOUTH of I-70). An added benefit would have been not having to have multiplexed I-74 along the west & south legs of I-465 in Indy.
I'm fine with interstates being out of grid, as long as there's a portion of it in grid. Like I-74 is in its grid position 3/4 of the way. Also I-71, which is east of I-75 in Ohio, is fine. I don't see a need to change a diagonal interstate's number every time it crosses a straight one, or else a route like I-95 would be broken up into about 6 different numbered pieces.
The primary purpose of route numbers is to connect cities, with the x0 and x5 connecting major cities together and the other routes connecting major cities to minor cities and sometimes minor cities to each other. The existence of diagonal routes makes a perfect numbering system impossible.
Yes, splitting I-74 into two different numbers satisfies the numbering system, but I-74 is a route that goes from Quad Cities to Cincinnati via Indianapolis, not two separate routes terminating in Indianapolis, and it needs to be numbered as such.
Thanks for this! Always wondered why 275 is in Indiana at all! Now I see why and it makes sense.
Pixel 5
I have been on the east and west halves, relative to I-75, many a time due to traffic, accidents, and construction on I-75 inside I-275. The first time I took it I assumed the east half would be the quickest route based on how it appeared on the map, after getting stuck in traffic going that way I tried the west half on the way back and was surprised how much faster it seemed. After getting home I used Google Maps to figure out the mileage difference between the two halves and was even more surprised to find out that the west half is the same length as the east half!
Yeah way less volume on the west half once you're west of Colerain Ave./US-27. People drive faster too than they do on the east half.
As of about an hour ago, I can say I've traversed the northwest section between I-74 and I-75. Seemed like a pretty decent beltway, not too much traffic, not too stressful to drive.
Also, the I-275 route looks like Snoopy's head.
You know, Interstate 275 does look like Snoopy's head. I've never noticed that before. If Charles Shultz had been from Cincinnati, Interstate 275 could have been the Charles Shultz Memorial Beltway.
270 looks like Homer Simpson's head.
Quote from: GCrites80s on June 08, 2021, 02:46:23 PM
270 looks like Homer Simpson's head.
I've thought of I-270 as jellybean shaped.
I-465 have a ponytail hair, not sure who's head though.
There's the 3 eastern midwest beltways covered.
To clinch the whole thing in one single trip would be a major accomplishment! Even at that, I haven't been able to do so, having missed the western parts on either side of I-74 (to I-75 in OH, and to the airport in KY).
Quote from: Henry on June 09, 2021, 11:48:14 AM
To clinch the whole thing in one single trip would be a major accomplishment! Even at that, I haven't been able to do so, having missed the western parts on either side of I-74 (to I-75 in OH, and to the airport in KY).
I've never driven the whole thing in one sitting, but there are several segments I've driven more than once (The entire Kentucky portion, the Indiana portion extending to I-74 west, and between I-75 and I-71 on the north side are the ones I've done most frequently).
I have driven the entirety of the Washington Beltway (I-495) all in one sitting, however.
Quote from: hbelkins on June 09, 2021, 06:18:02 PM
Quote from: Henry on June 09, 2021, 11:48:14 AM
To clinch the whole thing in one single trip would be a major accomplishment! Even at that, I haven't been able to do so, having missed the western parts on either side of I-74 (to I-75 in OH, and to the airport in KY).
I have driven the entirety of the Washington Beltway (I-495) all in one sitting, however.
When we first moved from Cleveland to Columbus, back in 1982, my dad took us around I-270 in one sitting.
When you could actually see the Great Wall of Gahanna. It seems so primitive and small as compared to today's sound walls.
Quote from: GCrites80s on June 11, 2021, 03:40:44 PM
When you could actually see the Great Wall of Gahanna. It seems so primitive and small as compared to today's sound walls.
You're right. I've completely forgotten about that, over the last decade or two, due to it "disappearing" behind nature.
I finally did it on my third visit to Cincinnati spanning 12 years, although really the first ended up being unnecessary for this venture.
I see the historical reasons above for going into Indiana but it seems so unnecessary.
SM-T290
Quote from: sbeaver44 on July 28, 2021, 11:03:03 PM
I finally did it on my third visit to Cincinnati spanning 12 years, although really the first ended up being unnecessary for this venture.
I see the historical reasons above for going into Indiana but it seems so unnecessary.
SM-T290
It may be unnecessary, but it is a fun quirk to the route and hopefully another time I'll get to drive that section. It gives Indiana a 3DI where its parent doesn't even enter its borders.
Quote from: JoePCool14 on July 28, 2021, 11:35:36 PM
Quote from: sbeaver44 on July 28, 2021, 11:03:03 PM
I finally did it on my third visit to Cincinnati spanning 12 years, although really the first ended up being unnecessary for this venture.
I see the historical reasons above for going into Indiana but it seems so unnecessary.
SM-T290
It may be unnecessary, but it is a fun quirk to the route and hopefully another time I'll get to drive that section. It gives Indiana a 3DI where its parent doesn't even enter its borders.
Something interesting about 3dis in Indiana, all of the 2di in the state except I-65 and I-69 doesn't have a 3di in the state, but have one in another state each 2di travels. That's 6 2di (64, 70, 74, 80, 90, 94).
Quote from: SkyPesos on July 28, 2021, 11:41:35 PM
Quote from: JoePCool14 on July 28, 2021, 11:35:36 PM
Quote from: sbeaver44 on July 28, 2021, 11:03:03 PM
I finally did it on my third visit to Cincinnati spanning 12 years, although really the first ended up being unnecessary for this venture.
I see the historical reasons above for going into Indiana but it seems so unnecessary.
SM-T290
It may be unnecessary, but it is a fun quirk to the route and hopefully another time I'll get to drive that section. It gives Indiana a 3DI where its parent doesn't even enter its borders.
Something interesting about 3dis in Indiana, all of the 2di in the state except I-65 and I-69 doesn't have a 3di in the state, but have one in another state each 2di travels. That's 6 2di (64, 70, 74, 80, 90, 94).
Good fictional thread idea: Give Indiana a 3DI for each 2DI that doesn't currently have one. They could be an existing road or a new loop/spur.
Quote from: Henry on June 09, 2021, 11:48:14 AM
To clinch the whole thing in one single trip would be a major accomplishment! Even at that, I haven't been able to do so, having missed the western parts on either side of I-74 (to I-75 in OH, and to the airport in KY).
That is how we did it in 2009. Had never been to Cincinnati before, and were on a 5 day roadtrip to the Ohio Valley/Great Lakes, so knocked it out in the counter clockwise direction.
I went through the AASHTO Route Numbering Archive when updating the page for I-275 at https://www.interstate-guide.com/i-275-cincinnati/
The 1958 Urban Interstate Numerology for Ohio included just the arc of I-275 from I-74 east to I-71. It was labeled Interstate Route A-74. Unfortunately there are no other documents uploaded regarding I-275 or approvals for the extensions west to Indiana or south into Kentucky.
Quote from: SkyPesos on June 09, 2021, 08:14:41 AM
I-465 have a ponytail hair, not sure who's head though.
There's the 3 eastern midwest beltways covered.
Toishiro Mifune...
(https://i.pinimg.com/originals/93/83/5c/93835c8f723a4bdcf110b382fcbf2038.jpg)
Quote from: SkyPesos on July 28, 2021, 11:41:35 PM
Quote from: JoePCool14 on July 28, 2021, 11:35:36 PM
Quote from: sbeaver44 on July 28, 2021, 11:03:03 PM
I finally did it on my third visit to Cincinnati spanning 12 years, although really the first ended up being unnecessary for this venture.
I see the historical reasons above for going into Indiana but it seems so unnecessary.
SM-T290
It may be unnecessary, but it is a fun quirk to the route and hopefully another time I'll get to drive that section. It gives Indiana a 3DI where its parent doesn't even enter its borders.
Something interesting about 3dis in Indiana, all of the 2di in the state except I-65 and I-69 doesn't have a 3di in the state, but have one in another state each 2di travels. That's 6 2di (64, 70, 74, 80, 90, 94).
Well, of course I-64 used to have a child in Evansville, but it changed its name.
Interstate 294 originally continued into Indiana prior to Interstates 90 and 94 swapping places. The Chicago Skyway and the western-most 21 miles of the Indiana Toll Road was part of Interstate 94, not 90, which followed 94's route between those two junctions. The Interstate 80/94 duplex from Exit 0 (Illinois) to Exit 16 (Indiana) was an Interstate 80/90/294 triplex. Interstate 294 was retracted to its present terminus when 90 and 94 were moved to their present alignments in 1965. I think Interstate 294 never should have entered Indiana in the first place.
I just did it in one fell swoop tonight, took me about a hour and twenty minutes. started at the CVG airport exit and did a full loop. construction on the NE side slowed me down a bit but still a pleasant drive in the late evening.
Quote from: Georgia on May 10, 2022, 11:48:25 PM
construction on the NE side slowed me down a bit
In case you're wondering what the construction on the NE side is for, they're adding a SmartLane (https://www.transportation.ohio.gov/about-us/news/district-8/smartlane-corridor-coming-to-i-275?msclkid=0f5e70aad0df11ec9705d5863ab3cdb4) between US 42 (exit 46) and Loveland-Maderia (exit 52). It's an extra lane that will only be accessible when speeds in the other lanes are below a certain speed. Hopefully, they can extend this SmartLane west to US 27 or US 127, and east to OH 28 or OH 32 in the future; I-275 gets congested to both points a lot.
^ From what I read, it will be open fully during peak times, not only when speeds drop below a certain speed. Essentially, the hours would be fixed, not varying.
At least Ohio now acknowledges that it's OK for rules to change during peak on highways. 15-20 years ago that wasn't the case.
Remember, there are some parts of Ohio (Cincinnati) that are usually 15 years behind the times. It took Ohio DOT (or local officials) to widen I-71 from four to six lanes around Kings Island 25 years after it opened in 1972. :-/
Next thing areas may experience would be HOV lanes. Give some areas 50 years and they may construct HOT lanes.
I regard I-275 as less of a beltway or bypass than a regional highway.
Interestly, in the 80's much of I-275 was rural, especially the western and eastern stretches. Today the east has become more urban and busier. The western leg from CVG Airport to I-74 remains rural although traffic has picked up.
Quote from: GCrites80s on June 08, 2021, 02:46:23 PM
270 looks like Homer Simpson's head.
I-270 looks like Porky Pig's head.
I'm sure I've been on all of I-275 at some point, but some parts very, very rarely. I just wouldn't use the far northeast or far northwest stretches very much at all.
It seems like I had a really urgent medical appointment in the late '90s where we had to use one of those parts.
I seem to have a vague memory of being about 6 (about 1979) and going with family one night to see the Combs-Hehl Bridge right around the time it opened. (The Combs-Hehl Bridge is the bridge on I-275 on the Ohio River on the southeast of Cincinnati.) I think we might have parked on the bridge approach just before it opened. The control city for the KY 9 exit used to just be Newport (no Wilder or any other cities). I don't remember exactly what would happen if you went east from there before the Combs-Hehl Bridge and I-471 were built. So I don't know how we got to the bridge that one evening.
Quote from: bandit957 on July 02, 2022, 09:41:21 AM
I'm sure I've been on all of I-275 at some point, but some parts very, very rarely. I just wouldn't use the far northeast or far northwest stretches very much at all.
It seems like I had a really urgent medical appointment in the late '90s where we had to use one of those parts.
I seem to have a vague memory of being about 6 (about 1979) and going with family one night to see the Combs-Hehl Bridge right around the time it opened. (The Combs-Hehl Bridge is the bridge on I-275 on the Ohio River on the southeast of Cincinnati.) I think we might have parked on the bridge approach just before it opened. The control city for the KY 9 exit used to just be Newport (no Wilder or any other cities). I don't remember exactly what would happen if you went east from there before the Combs-Hehl Bridge and I-471 were built. So I don't know how we got to the bridge that one evening.
I've clinched the whole thing and it takes forever to drive around it. It was well over an hour but I had time to kill waiting for someone at the airport.
Quote from: Flint1979 on July 04, 2022, 06:46:06 PM
Quote from: bandit957 on July 02, 2022, 09:41:21 AM
I'm sure I've been on all of I-275 at some point, but some parts very, very rarely. I just wouldn't use the far northeast or far northwest stretches very much at all.
It seems like I had a really urgent medical appointment in the late '90s where we had to use one of those parts.
I seem to have a vague memory of being about 6 (about 1979) and going with family one night to see the Combs-Hehl Bridge right around the time it opened. (The Combs-Hehl Bridge is the bridge on I-275 on the Ohio River on the southeast of Cincinnati.) I think we might have parked on the bridge approach just before it opened. The control city for the KY 9 exit used to just be Newport (no Wilder or any other cities). I don't remember exactly what would happen if you went east from there before the Combs-Hehl Bridge and I-471 were built. So I don't know how we got to the bridge that one evening.
I've clinched the whole thing and it takes forever to drive around it. It was well over an hour but I had time to kill waiting for someone at the airport.
Didn't take me much over an hour...
A lot of people drive slowly (on the East Side especially) which makes it tough to get around it quickly even when traffic isn't bad in the stretch near Reading and 71.
I've driven all of it, but never all in one fell swoop, like I did for I-495 in Virginia and Maryland a few years ago to get it clinched.
My most-used sections are from I-71/75 over to I-74, and also from that interchange over to the AA Highway.
I did drive clockwise from I-75 in Ohio around to the AA Highway several years ago to avoid downtown because there was a home Bengals game.