Interstate 471 North

U.S. 27 (Alexandria Pike) approaches the turn off to Fort Thomas in the city of Highland Heights. Alexandria Pike transitions to unsigned KY 471 north at forthcoming Sunset Avenue.

11/08/09

Sunset Drive connects the freeway beginning with adjacent residential areas to the west as U.S. 27 (Alexandria Pike) turns east.

11/08/09

Two lanes proceed northward directly to the directional interchange (Exits 1A/B) with Interstate 275.

11/08/09

A confirming marker follows for Interstate 471 north, despite the status of this 0.7 mile segment as KY 471.

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Exit 1A departs next for Interstate 275 east to the Combs-Hehl Bridge and southeastern Cincinnati. The succeeding ramp leaves from the left for the beltway west to Fort Wright, Lakeside Park and Erlanger.

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Interstate 275 encircles eastern reaches of Cincinnati along a suburban route to meet I-71 at Montgomery. I-71 angles northeast from the Queen City to Columbus.

11/08/09

Flyover ramps shuttle motorists from I-275 west to KY 471 south and from I-275 east to I-471 north as part of the exchange between the two freeways.

11/08/09

I-275 wraps around the northern Kentucky suburbs of Cincinnati to Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport (CVG) west of I-71/75. The beltway advances west from the airport to Lawrenceburg, Indiana.

11/08/09

Leading away from the Cincinnati beltway, I-471 north enters the city of Southgate.

11/14/04

U.S. 27 (Alexandria Pike) arcs northwest from Highland Heights through southern Fort Thomas to meet I-471 at a diamond interchange (Exit 2) in one mile.

11/04/11

Exits 2 and 3 (KY 1892) serve the city of Fort Thomas, which lies east of Interstate 471 and west of the Ohio River. The city derives its name from Civil War General George Henry Thomas and was incorporated on February 27, 1867. 16,000 call the municipality home.

11/08/09

U.S. 27 extends north from Interstate 471 to the Southgate city center. Southgate was named after State Representative and Senator, Richard Southgate.

11/04/11

Interstate 471 follows an S-curve through Exit 2 with U.S. 27 (Alexandria Pike). U.S. 27 enters the city of Newport from Southgate, traveling Monmouth Street to Downtown.

11/04/11

KY 1892 (Grand Avenue) meanders northward from KY 1120 (Fort Thomas Avenue) in Fort Thomas to meet Interstate 471 at a modified diamond interchange (Exit 3).

11/04/11

Downtown Cincinnati is now three miles to the north via I-471 and U.S. 50 west.

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Motorists merge onto I-471 north to add an auxiliary lane to Exit 3.

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KY 1892 (Carothers Road) bisects a retail area anchored by Newport Pavilion from Exit 3 to U.S. 27 (Monmouth Street), its western terminus.

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An arched high-level bridge carries Highland Avenue across Interstate 471 between U.S. 27 and KY 1892 in this scene.

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Interstate 471 north enters the city of Newport at the ramp departure (Exit 3) to KY 1892 (Grand Avenue). Newport was platted in 1785 and named for British Explorer Captain Christopher Newport. The city is the oldest in Kentucky, incorporated in 1795.

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Exit 3 partitions with a directional ramp joining KY 1892 (Grand Avenue) west to Pavilion Parkway. Development of the adjacent Newport Pavilion retail complex started with the demolition of homes in 2006. The 56-acre site also included the acquisition of 90 properties and leveling of a hill west of old Grand Avenue. The first store opened in 2009 with nearly full capacity at the center by late 2015.¹

11/04/11

A pronounced rock cut lines the northbound on-ramp from KY 1892 beyond this reassurance marker.

11/08/09

Next in line for northbound travelers is the diamond interchange (Exit 4) with KY 1120 (Memorial Parkway).

11/08/09

KY 1120 links Newport with Woodlawn and Bellevue to the east. The west end of the state route is located at Exit 191 of Interstate 75 in Covington.

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Sinking toward the Ohio River, a few high rise buildings appear on the forthcoming foothills.

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Exit 4 ascends from Interstate 471 south to KY 1120 (Memorial Parkway). KY 1120 meanders east through south Bellevue and Fort Thomas before ending at U.S. 27. Memorial Parkway was built around 1953 along an old street car line.

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KY 8 straddles the Ohio River from Downtown Newport to Bellevue. The state route crosses paths with I-471 at a folded diamond interchange (Exit 5) in 0.5 miles.

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KY 8 (Dave Cowens Drive) west to 3rd Street (U.S. 27) connects I-471 with the Newport Aquarium and Newport on the Levee shopping and entertainment complex. Port Bellevue is located to the east via KY 8.

11/14/04

Interstate 471 passes under a CSX Railroad bridge and then elevates onto the Dan Beard Bridge approach.

11/08/09

Exit 8 departs shortly as a long ramp to Dave Cowens Drive. KY 8 follows Fairfield Avenue east through Bellevue to 6th Street through the adjacent city of Dayton.

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Exit 5 leaves Interstate 471 north for KY 8 and the Ohio Riverfront. The exit numbering convention extends north into Ohio, with the subsequent exit connecting with U.S. 50 (Fort Washington Way west / Columbia Parkway east).

11/08/09

Also known as the Purple People Bridge, the Newport Southbank Bridge, comes into view to the west as Interstate 471 kinks westward onto the Dan Beard Bridge. Three off-ramps serve Downtown Cincinnati north of the Ohio River.

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The Daniel Carter Beard Bridge is a steel tied arch bridge. The bridge was finished in 1976, but only opened between local ramps at each end.²

11/14/04

Northbound Interstate 471 carries four overall lanes. Upcoming Exit 6A provides access to U.S. 50 (Columbia Parkway) east along the Ohio River and U.S. 50 (Fort Washington Way) west to Interstate 71 south and 3rd Street. 3rd Street parallels I-71 near the stadiums for the Cincinnati Bengals and Cincinnati Reds.

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Nearing the superstructure of the Dan Beard Bridge. The yellow color of the arch gave the span the nickname "Big Mac" Bridge, because of the resemblance to the golden arches of McDonalds restaurants.²

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Entering the Buckeye State, Interstate 471 continues with four lanes and no shoulder. The span was restriped in 2000 to add an additional through lane in place of a break down lane.³

11/14/04

Lowering from the Daniel Beard Bridge, traffic separates for Exit 6A to U.S. 50 (Fort Washington Way). Fort Washington Way is a freeway connector linking I-471 north with Interstate 71 south through Downtown and Columbia Parkway east to Mt. Adams and East End.

11/08/09

U.S. 50 and Columbia Parkway pass overhead as a loop ramp joins Fort Washington Way west to I-71 south and 3rd Street. 3rd Street comprises a frontage street to I-71 & U.S. 50 as the freeway passes just north of Great American Ballpark and Paul Brown Stadium.

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Exit 6B arcs westward to become 6th Street west at Broadway Street in the Cincinnati central business district. Beyond Downtown, Sixth Street forms the westbound lanes of an expressway for U.S. 50.

11/14/04

Exit 7 branches away from I-471 as the freeway merges with Interstate 71 north to Norwood and Montgomery. A wye interchange joins the freeway north end with Liberty Street at U.S. 42 (Reading Road).

11/14/04

Interstate 471 merges with I-71 north at a wye interchange adjacent as Exit 7 parts ways for Liberty Street. Liberty Street stems west from U.S. 42 (Reading Road) between Pendleton and Mt. Auburn to the Over-The-Rhine neighborhood. U.S. 42 follows Interstate 71 northward from the CBD to the Walnut Hills and Avondale communities.

11/14/04