I'm leaving for a trip in a week and I was wonering if I should go through Columbus on I-70 or around it on I-270. I would be going though at around 6PM on a Sunday night.
Columbus isn't that bad really. You will be driving through at an off-peak time so any traffic woes will be limited. I'd take 70.
Eastbound 70 going through downtown has a lane taken away on the bridge over the Scioto River, but that only causes problems during peak hours. Shouldn't have any issues during the weekend though. Wave at me when you fly by :)
Generally, you'll be fine. Even in rush hour, I-70 isn't that bad. I-270 is best used for local short travel, or going from one freeway to another (such as I-71 South to I-70 West, etc). One good way around is I-670 east to I-71 South to I-70 East. More lanes of travel, less bottlenecking, hardly any extra distance.
Sykotyk's alternate for EB is a decent idea, involving essentially no lane changes downtown. Besides that, there's really no reason to take a longer route to get "around" congestion in Columbus; in rush hour, I-270 gets just as congested as the radial freeways.
Unless you get unlucky and come upon an accident on the innerbelt (I-70/71 section) you should be fine driving I-70 through Columbus at any time on a Sunday.
Quote from: Sykotyk on July 10, 2011, 05:03:21 PM
Generally, you'll be fine. Even in rush hour, I-70 isn't that bad. I-270 is best used for local short travel, or going from one freeway to another (such as I-71 South to I-70 West, etc). One good way around is I-670 east to I-71 South to I-70 East. More lanes of travel, less bottlenecking, hardly any extra distance.
I'm going to use this suggestion. Thanks everyone.