Fort Washington Way narrows again Friday
Saturday, July 25, 1998BY LUCY MAY
The Cincinnati Enquirer
Brace yourselves, motorists. The Fort Washington Way work you've been dreading is on its way.
Starting at about 7 p.m. Friday and continuing through Sunday, Aug. 2, all entrance ramps to and from Fort Washington Way westbound will close permanently.
This work also will move westbound traffic on the downtown expressway to existing eastbound lanes, essentially squeezing traffic going both directions into half the highway's old width.
Two lanes of traffic will be maintained in each direction on Fort Washington Way.
But the lanes will be only 9 feet wide, meaning vehicles wider than 7 feet won't be allowed on the highway going either direction, said Jeff Wallace, a contracts administrator for the project. Eastbound Fort Washington Way ramp closures began earlier this month, and planners, for the most part, have been pleased with the way drivers have been able to cope and keep traffic moving.
But this series of closures will be the true test, planners say. The ramps that will close permanently next week are:
I-71 southbound - Fort Washington Way westbound ramp to Vine Street and Covington.
I-71 southbound - Fort Washington Way westbound exit ramp to Elm Street and Third Street.
Ramp onto Fort Washington Way westbound at Sycamore and Third streets.
Ramp onto Fort Washington Way westbound at Pike Street.
In addition, these two ramps will close for about 18 months:
The loop ramp connecting I-471 northbound to Fort Washington Way westbound.
Ramp connecting Columbia Parkway (U.S. 50) westbound to Fort Washington Way westbound.
Also, southbound I-71 just north of the Lytle Tunnel will be reduced to one lane from 7 p.m. Friday until 6 a.m. Monday, Aug. 3. The ramp news isn't all bad, however.
A new ramp from I-71 and I-471 southbound to Eggleston Avenue is tentatively scheduled to open for traffic Aug. 3. The ramp will provide motorists will a new route into downtown from I-71 southbound.
Highway planners offer these alternative routes into downtown after Aug. 3:
From I-71 southbound, use the existing exit ramp for Reading Road and Gilbert Avenue or the new ramp to Eggleston Avenue.
From I-471 northbound, use the Sixth Street exit ramp or the Liberty Street exit ramp.
From Columbia Parkway (U.S. 50) westbound, use the Sixth Street exit ramp and Fifth Street viaduct to Fourth Street or the Eggleston Avenue exit ramp.
Alternate routes out of downtown after Aug. 3 include:
To Columbia Parkway (U.S. 50) eastbound, use the Fifth Street viaduct or the Walnut Street - Levee Way entrance ramp.
To I-471 southbound, use the Fifth Street entrance ramp, the Walnut Street - Levee Way entrance ramp or the Liberty Street entrance ramp.
To I-71 northbound, use existing entrance ramps at Fifth Street, Seventh Street, Gilbert Avenue and Reading Road.
To I-75 northbound, use existing entrance ramps at Fourth Street, Sixth Street, and the Eighth and Ninth street viaducts.
To I-71 - I-75 southbound, use the Eighth and Ninth street viaducts entrance ramp or the Clay Wade Bailey and Roebling Suspension bridges to Fourth Street in Covington.
To U.S. 50 westbound, use Sixth Street west ramp.
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