By Marie McCain
The Cincinnati Enquirer

Orange barrels and white knuckles soon will be a thing of the past along Interstate 275 in the eastern suburbs.

That's because one of the longest and most expensive road reconstruction projects in Tristate history is finally winding down, to the relief of commuters who have endured nearly three years of concrete barriers, zig-zagging lines and huge tie-ups brought on by hundreds of wrecks.

Click to view Acrobat PDF file (220k) showing detailed information and a map of the work winding down on I-275. (AP photo) | ZOOM |

The project, covering 20 miles from Anderson Township to Sharonville, will be finished in December. One section, between Ohio 28 and Montgomery Road, has been complete for several months. Construction continues in the other sections, but much of the heavy work is done.

"It wasn't a relaxing ride. You'd be gripping the steering wheel for a lot of it, and when you've been working all day that's the last thing you want to do," said Danny Kern of Westwood, who manages a wine store in Miami Township, Clermont County. "I'll be so glad when it's completed."

The $110 million, multiphase project began in March 2001. Bridges have been widened, another lane added and interchanges and signs improved. The Ohio Department of Transportation also is installing sound walls in the southern section of the project, near the Ohio 32 and Ohio 125 exits.

Officials said work will be completed on schedule and within budget.

The Ohio State Highway Patrol watched the construction zone closely, issuing thousands of tickets to careless, speeding drivers. Still, crashes wreaked havoc, and the resulting backups made countless commuters late for work or dinner. From January 2002 to June 2003 - the most recent ODOT statistics available - there were 1,371 accidents reported in the construction zone.

Some drivers, weary of the delays, sought other routes.

"There was always a bottleneck, especially at the exit ramp onto 275 from 71, and the merge lane was so short," said Miamiville resident Susan Hardin, who drives her son to hockey matches in the Evendale area.

Instead of braving the barrels, Hardin opted for side streets that took her to Cross County Highway then to Interstate 71.

"I changed my route a lot of times even though the travel times were considerably longer," Kern added. "I'd go all the way down U.S. 50 to Columbia Parkway to avoid the orange barrels."

This was ODOT's second-most-expensive road repair project ever in Greater Cincinnati. (The state contributed $133 million to the Fort Washington Way reconstruction.)

Most of I-275 was two lanes each way when it was completed in the mid-1970s. Now, most of the 84-mile circle is at least three lanes each way.

ODOT officials know the project has caused more than a few headaches, and they, like drivers, are happy that the end is near.

"It's painful while the construction is going on," construction engineer Larry Weisman said. But in the end, hopefully, the commuters there benefit from what's happened."

But more construction ahead

OHIO

• Work continues on I-75 from just south of I-275 north to Tylersville Road in West Chester to add a lane, raise bridges and build noise walls. Began December 2002; completion by June 2005.

• In 2004: Bridge over Mill Creek will be replaced along southbound I-75 near the Lockland split. Work to begin in March.

KENTUCKY

• I-275 and Ky. 20. Multiphase project to build new interchange. Started in 2002; scheduled completion 2008.

• I-471. New southbound off-ramp at Ky. 8. A multiphase project. This segment began in 2002; completion 2006.

• I-471. Connector between I-275 and the AA Highway. Began 2002; completion 2006.

• I-71. Construction of new route to U.S. 42. Started in 2002; completion 2006.

--Sources: Ohio Department of Transportation; Ohio Kentucky, Indiana Regional Council of Governments

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E-mail mmccain@enquirer.com