FLORENCE - At one Northern Kentucky interstate exit, lane and exit shutdowns on Interstate 75 from construction have caused traffic delays and decreased business. The Turfway exit ramp on I-75 south finally opened Monday morning after being closed for nine days. The ramp leads to destinations including Dick's Sporting Goods, Sofa Express, Meijer, Target, Turfway Park and restaurants.

        It is identified as one of Northern Kentucky's top traffic spots by the Transportation Cabinet - when the exit is open.

        “We saw a small drop-off in business last week,” said Mike Seader, general manager of Rafferty's on Turfway Road. “Thursday our sales were down 15 or 20 percent. The weekend was off by about 5 percent.”

        However, Mr. Seader said the decline in business wasn't as big as he expected. “We were fortunate that the Hilton next door had a couple of large groups in.”

        “It is definitely not helping business,” said Gary Rice, district manager of Dick's Sporting Goods on Houston Road.

        He said several people planning to come to Dick's or other Turfway and Houston road businesses chose to eat or shop elsewhere once they were forced to take the Burlington Pike exit instead.

        “It probably didn't affect us as much because we're the only large sporting goods store in the area,” Mr. Rice said.

        Melissa Meyer of Burlington, who works in Cincinnati, said traffic was terrible on I-75 south while the exit ramp was closed.

        “It gets so backed up through there that last week I took (Interstate) 275 home,” she said. She would normally take the Burlington Pike exit. “Even though it takes a little longer, it is better than sitting in traffic.”

        Signs detoured motorists to the Burlington Pike exit, where they could then take Ky. 18 to Turfway near Big Lots or to the south end of Houston Road near Kohl's department store.

        “The detour set up directs traffic to 18 instead of the Erlanger exit, which I think would be a much better route,” Mrs. Meyer said. The Erlanger exit is before the Turfway exit and puts drivers close to the north end of Houston Road near Bigg's and Turfway Park.

        “I would have taken the Erlanger exit to Houston Road,” Mr. Rice said.

        Tom Szurlinsky, assistant chief for the Florence Police Department, said the closing did cause some delays but no severe problems.

        “We haven't seen a large increase in accidents,” he said.

        Although the ramp was closed, all emergency vehicles, including ambulances headed to St. Luke West, were able to use the ramp.

        The exit ramp reopened Monday, but Larry Trenkamp, branch manager for the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet's District 6, said it could be closed for short periods over the next few weeks while construction is being completed on the interstate.

        Mr. Trenkamp said the work on the exit and I-75 is a maintenance project costing just over $3 million.

        I-75 south and north will continue to be down to two lanes from Turfway Road to U.S. 42 overnight until mid-October. It will be restricted during the week from 11 p.m. to 6:30 a.m. and on the weekends from midnight until 8 a.m.

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