I-71 Widening: Columbus to Cincinnati

[webny99]

With I-71 now being fully six-laned north of Columbus, focus now shifts to the remaining four lane sections of I-71 southwest of Columbus. I don't see a thread for this yet so I figured we could track updates here.

Below is the current state of I-71 from south to north between the Cincinnati and Columbus beltways.

Exit 17 (I-275) to Exit 24 (Western Row Rd) [6 miles]: 8 lanes
Exit 24 (Western Row Rd) to Exit 28 (OH 48) [5 miles]: 6 lanes
Exit 28 (OH 48) to Fayette/Greene Co Line [33 miles]: 4 lanes
Fayette/Greene Co Line to MM 71 (Hidy Rd) [9.5 miles]: 6 lanes
MM 71 (Hidy Rd) to MM 80 (OH 323) [9 miles]: 4 lanes
MM 80 (OH 323) to Franklin/Pickaway Co Line [11 miles]: 4 lanes (widening under construction)
Franklin/Pickaway Co Line to Exit 101 (I-270) [10.5 miles]: 6 lanes

Total length: 84 miles
Total 4 lanes: 53 miles (63%)
Total 6+ lanes: 31 miles (37%)

The current 11-mile widening project from OH 323 to the Franklin County line is what I consider to be the "tipping point" project, as it will bring the six lane mileage to exactly 50% (42 miles) when complete. The next logical widening project would be the nine-mile gap from MM 71 to MM 80, which would complete widening on the Columbus half, leaving a single 33-mile gap between South Lebanon and the Fayette County line which is likely to require several more projects to complete.

[TempoNick]

You don't get any argument from me. I've always found that gap between Columbus and US 35 bothersome. Especially when some FedEx truck is hogging the left lane and slowing everybody up.

[Buck87]

I find it amusing that as it stands now, if you are going south you see the "Hell is Real" sign and then a mile later you drop from 3 lanes down to 2

[SkyPesos]

Side note: When the Jeremiah Morrow Bridge (between Exits 32 and 36) was replaced about a decade ago, the left shoulders are wide enough for 3 lanes on each side eventually. So there's one of the more difficult parts on the 33 mile stretch between Exit 28 and the Fayette/Greene County Line taken care of.

[webny99]

Side note: When the Jeremiah Morrow Bridge (between Exits 32 and 36) was replaced about a decade ago, the left shoulders are wide enough for 3 lanes on each side eventually. So there's one of the more difficult parts on the 33 mile stretch between Exit 28 and the Fayette/Greene County Line taken care of.

Yeah, that's a really good sign. This pair of bridges between Exit 50 and 58 have been pre-widened as well.

The MM 80 to MM 91 project is supposed to wrap up this year, so it will be interesting to see whether the remaining 9-mile gap to Jeffersonville is addressed next or part of the longer gap further south.