Cincinnati Notes

[GreenLanternCorps]

I-71 SB ramp from SB Mason-Montgomery Rd opened sometime in the past month. I was in the area yesterday and got some photos.

This was needed.  With all the residences, restaurants, car dealerships, and office buildings in that area, it gives an extra opportunity to get on SB I-71 instead of all traffic using the ramp from Fields-Ertel onto SB I-71.

I used to work over there (Pre-Covid) and had no idea they had built this ramp, though I vaguely remember them tearing down the BP at that intersection.  It's beats the heck out of having to take Escort Dr. to get to Southbound I-71.  My old office building is just north of there, but last time I was over there (to pick up a new computer) I used Irwin Simpson, so I did not get that far South.

[Georgia]

all the projects around CVG are needed bad now that the Amazon Hub is getting closer to its final form.

[Henry]

Looks like the I-75 split's days are numbered; I always thought it was cool to surround an entire neighborhood by two high-speed roadways. It'll be a sad day when this Thru the Valley thing victimizes it eventually.

I doubt the residents in that neighborhood thought it was good to be completely cut off from the city by freeways at the time. (Most people aren't like the old man in Little Pink Houses who thinks an interstate through his yard makes America great.) I think it's cool when this happens in rural areas where few are affected and good for industrial areas so traffic can easily access freeways without using city streets (shades of Cities Skylines). But I don't think this split in the middle of Cincinnati is good for the local residents and its removal should improve their quality of life.

Break out Leroy Pullins!  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HM2DADxAYaA

John Cougar Mellencamp, who lives one state west, can explain it better. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bB4FD5VkHak

[iBallasticwolf2]

I checked on some construction this weekend. Nothing much new but the US 25 bridge over the KY 338 Richwood Road SPUI is making a lot of progress. I can't wait to drive over and under it when it opens in a few months. There's a smaller project on US 42 for expanding the southbound overpass over I-75 at the Mall to extend the left turn lane and add a sidewalk. The turn lane is completely done and the sidewalk is actively being worked on. Both parts are very needed for that area - good to see it being addressed. I also checked the I-275 Smartlane construction in Loveland. All of the pavement is done and there is no sign of construction at all. Not sure when ODOT intends on adding the markings, signage, and reversible lane lights to actually run the Smartlanes. OH 32 construction near Eastgate is slowly progressing. The interchange at Bach Buxton road is really taking shape.

[iBallasticwolf2]

Today I went through the construction for the new I-75 southbound to I-74 westbound flyover ramp. The ramp is sorely needed because the current ramp merges in with I-74 under the old railroad overpass, and does so at a 20 mph advisory speed, directly onto the other I-74 ramp that is at highway speed. There is definitely progress being made on the ramp. There is also a new pedestrian bridge over I-74 to replace the old one that was destroyed for construction. The approaches are close to done but the middle, over top of I-74, has not been built yet.





Back in NKY, there is work being started on a minor highway safety improvement project on KY 18 between Greenview Road and the TA truckstop. Right now there is a new concrete median being built between I-75 northbound and the car entrance to TA to remove a left turn into Commerce Drive and enforce RIRO out of Tanners Lane. The truckstops here are an absolute mess right now because the old TA on KY 338 was destroyed and is being rebuilt during the KY 338 construction. The TA on KY 18 plus the Pilot on KY 338 / Frogtown Road are absolutely hammered right now and sometimes back up for a whole mile queuing to get into the truck stop. Hopefully the new TA on KY 338 will open sometime in the summer and balance back out the truck traffic.
Speaking of KY 338, the US 25 overpass for the SPUI with KY 338 is making a lot of progress. I checked it yesterday and all the scaffolding temporary supports are gone. It looks like the overpass is freestanding now. I don't know how far the actual road deck over top of future KY 338 is, and future KY 338 itself is still just dirt and gravel, but it will definitely be welcome when the SPUI opens!

[iBallasticwolf2]

View from future KY 338 at Richwood, passing under the railroad and the future grade separated US 25. Progress coming along quite nicely. You can't see it in the picture but the ramps from US 25 down to KY 338 and also new US 25 itself is also making a lot of progress.

I don't have pictures today but KY 536 between Toebben Drive and Turkeyfoot Road is going to get moved to the new alignment on June 1 (at least according to the VMS on 536). The new sidewalk + turn lanes on westbound US 42 at I-75 in Florence seems to be done now too.

[SkyPesos]

New FYA at the I-275 onramp on US 22/OH 3. Interesting that it's a 3-section model with a center bimodal static and flashing yellow, instead of the more common 4-section. Looks like this is the ODOT standard for FYAs, as 3-section FYAs were also installed on OH 747 a couple of years ago.

[iBallasticwolf2]

Some more updates this week
- US 25 & KY 338 SPUI making more progress. Hopefully open before the end of the summer! Also a lot of new pavement for the multi use paths on US 25 and KY 338 throughout the project area.

- KY 536 between Toebben Drive and Turkeyfoot Road was moved to the brand new alignment this week, with traffic moving two way on the southern carriageway so that the northern carriageway can be built (the old alignment and temporary pavement was blocking some of the northern carriageway). A large portion of the multi use path that goes with the southern carriageway has already been paved. The new alignment is wonderfully smooth compared to how terrible the old alignment had been getting.


Traffic is moving on temporary pavement that goes straight through the two future roundabouts on the project.


- KY 536 between US 25 and the I-75 diverging diamond has been seemingly abandoned for a while but this weekend it actually finally has some progress. More lanes opened up and the multi use path being paved finally. Hopefully this one can get wrapped up soon

[iBallasticwolf2]

Some big updates as of late:
- KYTC has officially released opening dates (subject to adjustment for weather) for opening of the Richwood US 25 & KY 338 SPUI, as well as I-75 & KY 338 DDI. The SPUI is planned to open on July 8, although the Shoreland Drive temporary light will run for 4 more weeks so that crews can rebuild the very ending piece of Richwood Road at Shoreland itself. The current I-75 & KY 338 diamond interchange will have numerous closures between July 11 and 17 so that crews can get the DDI into operation by the end of the period.
       View of US 25 & KY 338 SPUI from the hill just to the east of Best Pal Drive:                         View of the SPUI from the KY 338 & Best Pal Drive intersection:

I went through the project area and saw signage actively going up, as well as pavement for the multi use paths being finalized.

- The I-75 Southbound to I-74 Westbound flyover ramp is making good progress. The I-Beams have been extended to get over the railroad track and are almost connected up with where it will meet back up at I-75. Not sure of a completion date but I could see it opening by the end of the year

[iBallasticwolf2]

The US 25 & KY 338 SPUI opened a week ago, and the plans changed so that the Shoreland Drive temporary light is already gone. The I-75 & KY 338 diamond is being converted to a DDI right now and the entirety of the interior of the interchange is closed, although right turns are still allowed. It's definitely quite a mess right now but a lot of progress is being made quickly. I also noticed that almost all of the lanes on the west side of Richwood are open now.

                                                US 25 overpass over KY 338                                                                                                            US 25 at former Shoreland Drive temporary light

Ramp coming off US 25 south to KY 338

KY 338 westbound heading through the SPUI

Ramp coming off I-75 north to at the moment only KY 338 eastbound    Ramp coming off I-75 south to at the moment only KY 338 westbound

KY 338 eastbound heading into what will soon be the DDI


A bonus - The new KYTC District 6 office under construction

[frankenroad]

Today I went through the construction for the new I-75 southbound to I-74 westbound flyover ramp. The ramp is sorely needed because the current ramp merges in with I-74 under the old railroad overpass, and does so at a 20 mph advisory speed, directly onto the other I-74 ramp that is at highway speed. There is definitely progress being made on the ramp. There is also a new pedestrian bridge over I-74 to replace the old one that was destroyed for construction. The approaches are close to done but the middle, over top of I-74, has not been built yet.

The new flyover ramp from 75 S to 74 W opened Monday 2/26.  Other parts of the rebuild are still in progress.  No visible progress on the pedestrian bridge.

[bandit957]

No visible progress on the pedestrian bridge.

Of course.