Two long-awaited and often-delayed connections between Second Street and Interstate 71 and U.S. 50 (Columbia Parkway) will open beginning Monday, officials overseeing the $314 million project said Tuesday.

INFOGRAPHIC

Map of ramps

        That will bring welcome relief to thousands of east-side residents who have struggled afternoons along Fifth Street, the only major eastbound route out of downtown.

        “It takes me 20 minutes door-to-door to get to my office in the morning, but some days it takes me 45 minutes just to get out of downtown,” said Anne Dover, an executive assistant who commutes from Mariemont.

Workers put finishing touches on the ramp from Second Street to northbound Interstate 71 that is to open Monday. (Glenn Hartong photo) | ZOOM |

        “I gave up trying to gauge a good time to leave, because if you tried to leave anytime before 7 p.m., you were still stuck. So this is the best news I've had in awhile.”

        Construction began on Fort Washington Way in July 1998, with most of the renovated highway opening in August. But Second Street and its connections to other highways have lagged behind.

        That's key because the new design called for Second and Third streets to handle local traffic formerly routed on the old highway, highlighted by gridlock along Fifth and Seventh streets every weekday evening.

        West-siders and through traffic will also benefit, because all four eastbound lanes of Fort Washington Way will open Monday.

        “It's going to put all the options intended there for everybody to use,” said Don Gindling, the city's project manager for the reconstruction of the highway that connects I-71, I-75 and U.S. 50.

        This is the fourth time since late August that officials have given an anticipated opening date for the Second Street connections, the most recent estimate being in late November.

        Second Street, including the eastern connections, was originally scheduled to open with the rest of the project on Aug. 15; but instead it opened in sections over the course of the fall, each behind schedule.

        The city blames the contractor, Maumee, Ohio-based S.E. Johnson, for the delays, while S.E. Johnson officials claim previous contractors didn't get out of the way in time and that the city made too many changes midstream.

        Unless a major blizzard strikes in the next five days, Mr. Gindling said the latest timetable is certain.

        Mr. Gindling said the eastbound lanes of Fort Washington Way will be closed midnight Friday to allow workers to complete work on the highway. On Monday morning before rush hour, the connection from Second to I-71 will open.

        At the same time, the main eastbound highway will reopen with four lanes available, as called for in the final design. Three lanes are now available eastbound, while westbound traffic already uses four lanes.

        That will eliminate a merge from Sixth Street, U.S. 50 east and I-75 south on the west side of downtown, as well as ease congestion in the main trench.

        “Now we don't have to chance it, close our eyes, and gun the engine,” said Karen Dyke, a Price Hill resident who works in Hyde Park. “Coming home, that really gets to be a nightmare.”

        Mr. Gindling said that, weather permitting, the connection from Second Street to Columbia Parkway will be open by Dec. 21, when city officials plan a dedication ceremony for the entire project.

        The openings will leave the ramp from Interstate 471 north from Kentucky onto Fort Washington Way as the only remaining unfinished connection, with a due date of June.

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