BY LISA DONOVAN
The Cincinnati Enquirer
Work crews are scheduled to open the ramp off northbound Interstate 71 - 75 to Fifth Street today to create an alternative route into downtown Cincinnati for the overhaul of Fort Washington Way.
"It (facilitates) the construction of Fort Washington Way -- it gives people an alternative exit point to downtown that we can build right now," said John Deatrick, a city engineer overseeing the project. "It means they'll have some way to get immediately downtown over the next two years."
Exit and entrance ramps to the business district and central riverfront will eventually be closed permanently. Exits will be constructed to anchor the east and west ends of the expressway. The U.S. 50 west ramp from the northbound Brent Spence Bridge lanes has been modified to include the new Fifth Street ramp.
The ramp, scheduled to open at 4 p.m. today, will dump traffic at Fifth Street and Central Avenue.
Central Avenue has been turned into a two-way street between Third and Sixth streets.
Throughout July, various lane and ramp closures will be made in preparation for putting all Fort Washington Way traffic, westbound and eastbound, on the current eastbound lanes. That switch will occur about Aug. 1.
NEW EXIT RAMP
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The new ramp connecting I-75 - I-71 northbound to Fifth Street opens to traffic today. Central Avenue will be switched to two-way between Third and Sixth. The new ramp enables motorists to turn right and go southbound on Central.
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Work is scheduled to conclude August 2000 to coincide with the opening of the Bengals' Paul Brown Stadium on the riverfront.
The new, $146.9 million Fort Washington Way will continue to serve as a connector between I-71 and I-75. The road will go from four and six lanes in places to eight. The expressway carries about 150,000 vehicles daily.
The new ramp has been designated a temporary exit, but planners want to see whether it improves traffic flow.
"If it creates problems, it won't be retained," Mr. Deatrick said.
Opening the ramp comes the day before officials gather for the official kickoff of the Fort Washington Way project. Gov. George Voinovich, Mayor Roxanne Qualls, city council members and other elected officials will gather Thursday on Fountain Square for ceremonies from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
