Jump to content

Featured Replies

I count 13 lanes in one spot.

  • Replies 571
  • Views 50.1k
  • Created
  • Last Reply

Top Posters In This Topic

Most Popular Posts

  • Wow. We are actually getting another cap like N High over 70... Hallelloo    

  • CbusOrBust
    CbusOrBust

    This particular phase of the Downtown Ramp Up project is going to be such a drastic change    Looking west            

  • Pablo
    Pablo

    Reddit user Mirthil posted these awesome pics https://publish.reddit.com/embed?url=https://www.reddit.com/r/Columbus/comments/1kkumxl/update_front_street_bridge_and_70w71s/

Posted Images

Still not as bad as the I-71/I-75 spaghetti junction that ODOT wants to build next to Downtown Cincinnati.

 

New-Brent-Spence-Bridge-Approach.jpg

ODOT builds the most boring interchanges. At least the freeways in LA and Dallas and Seattle look cool, negative effects on their cities notwithstanding. 

“To an Ohio resident - wherever he lives - some other part of his state seems unreal.”

That's actually something that out-of-state highway engineers complain about regularly. 

20 hours ago, taestell said:

Still not as bad as the I-71/I-75 spaghetti junction that ODOT wants to build next to Downtown Cincinnati.

 

 

 

When we keep proposing to add so much infrastructure-that-we-need-to-maintain in the face of so much existing infrastructure-that-we-can't-afford-to-maintain I really question how much longer this country can last.

20 hours ago, BigDipper 80 said:

ODOT builds the most boring interchanges. At least the freeways in LA and Dallas and Seattle look cool, negative effects on their cities notwithstanding. 

 

I think that's because Ohio has fewer space constraints so we are not forced to build triple-stack interchanges like you often see in LA. Even when there is a space constraint, ODOT has absolutely no problem acquiring and demolishing as many properties as necessary in order to build a flatter, wider interchange.

 

ODOT even bought and demolished the building stuck in between the ramps in this rendering. Just 'cuz.

New-Brent-Spence-Bridge-Approach.jpg

^That's why California still has so many left exits.

When Ohio does build interesting interchanges, it's always in weird places. Downtown Dayton has a four-level stack interchange, but Columbus is still ringed with barely-modified cloverleafs with weaving lanes. Cleveland's innerbelt, with all its looping offramps, looks like it belongs in Jackson Mississippi. 

“To an Ohio resident - wherever he lives - some other part of his state seems unreal.”

9 minutes ago, BigDipper 80 said:

When Ohio does build interesting interchanges, it's always in weird places. Downtown Dayton has a four-level stack interchange, but Columbus is still ringed with barely-modified cloverleafs with weaving lanes. Cleveland's innerbelt, with all its looping offramps, looks like it belongs in Jackson Mississippi. 

 

Nailed it. It is so obscure how ODOT designs freeways and interchanges. 

 

Columbus has slowly gotten rid of most of the cloverleafs I thought, but then replaced them with some of the strangest designs. The one that always blows my mind is 161 from I270 to Hamilton Rd. There is a tunnel, flyovers, left and right exits, and a strange center upper deck that supports Dublin Granville Rd or 670 and 71 Downtown with it's flyover that feels like you're 200' above the ground. It is all very strange. 

Edited by DevolsDance

ODOT Districts vary with the amount of novelty and whimsicality they allow. The one with Dayton in it is especially "flamboyant"... relatively.

^We do get a lot of nice decorations on our support columns and retaining walls, which I appreciate. But the new I-75  interchange downtown is.... weird. 

“To an Ohio resident - wherever he lives - some other part of his state seems unreal.”

Is that one in Cincinnati actually getting built? I'm sorry, Cincinnatians  : (

 

But serious question....is this taking up additional area to further divide the city or is it a net zero? I realize some of that green area there now with bushes and trees will become......cement with a cliff, but the actual bridge length doesn't seem much different....right?

 

I also am dying to still know if that S. High bridge cap is capable of holding a building on it as originally promised.

10 minutes ago, Zyrokai said:

Is that one in Cincinnati actually getting built? I'm sorry, Cincinnatians  : (

 

But serious question....is this taking up additional area to further divide the city or is it a net zero? I realize some of that green area there now with bushes and trees will become......cement with a cliff, but the actual bridge length doesn't seem much different....right?

 

I also am dying to still know if that S. High bridge cap is capable of holding a building on it as originally promised.

 

Based on the most recent design updates, yes. I believe the last time they were publicly updated was back in 2016, at that time South High was being built as "capable". It is being handled differently this time being that the cap won't be built with the bridge but the structure exists to cap it if a developer or the city were to step up during construction or at a later date. 

 

Now is this still the plan? I do not know for sure, but per the existing project site and a rundown of the project by MORPC in late 2018, both Third and High are being built to allow caps. 

 

http://www.morpc.org/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/Columbus_Crossroads_Narrative_FINAL.pdf

Edited by DevolsDance

11 minutes ago, Zyrokai said:

Is that one in Cincinnati actually getting built? I'm sorry, Cincinnatians  : (

 

It's actually a bit of an improvement over what's current there. More lanes, but a slightly smaller footprint:

 

https://www.google.com/maps/@39.1072035,-84.5229147,389a,35y,180.99h,62.14t/data=!3m1!1e3

 

 

Am I correct in saying that only one building is being lost to this entire project, that being the former E.T. Paul Tire?

Isn’t it amazing how the approved gas tax isn’t even the “bare minimum needed” according to DeWine, yet this stuff comes out afterwards.

On 4/19/2019 at 1:04 PM, Zyrokai said:

Is that one in Cincinnati actually getting built? I'm sorry, Cincinnatians  : (

 

On 4/19/2019 at 1:17 PM, Ram23 said:

It's actually a bit of an improvement over what's current there. More lanes, but a slightly smaller footprint:

 

https://www.google.com/maps/@39.1072035,-84.5229147,389a,35y,180.99h,62.14t/data=!3m1!1e3

 

The new spaghetti junction appears to be about the same footprint as the one that is there now, maybe a little bit narrower. Yes, it's getting pushed slightly away from downtown, but it's also getting pushed further into the West End and will require demolishing a portion of Longworth Hall. On the bright side, you could theoretically build new buildings along Central Avenue in the reclaimed land next to Downtown (shown as grassy lots in the rendering).

 

And regarding whether or not it's actually getting built? That depends on whether or not Kentucky and Ohio can agree on how to fund the new bridge. Kentucky's current administration is completely opposed to the new bridge being tolled, but has no other ideas for how to pay for it.

 

current.thumb.jpg.09dfc6bc1bbf93ef2024d16f9a5316f0.jpg

 

New-Brent-Spence-Bridge-Approach.jpg

 

Anyway, sorry for so much Cincinnati stuff... back to Columbus.

5 minutes ago, taestell said:

 

Anyway, sorry for so much Cincinnati stuff... back to Columbus.

 

 

YES - back to Columbus!  If you want to discuss Cincinnati highway infrastructure - go to the appropriate Cincinnati thread.

 

Sorry for the reply to you taestall - this is directed at all posters in general here - but you provided the proper opening (thanks).

  • 4 weeks later...

 

On 4/16/2019 at 2:36 PM, Zyrokai said:

 

A little more about the bridge designs for the next phases the I-70/I-71 downtown work:

 

This is an aerial of the existing Front Street and High Street bridges over I-70/I-71 between Downtown and the Brewery District:

47797643582_2b2cc01565_b_d.jpg

 

 

This is an aerial rendering of ODOT's reconstructed Front Street and High Street bridge over I-70/I-71:

32905784347_5279a8dc47_b_d.jpg

 

 

High Street gets more improvements than Front Street, with park space being added on both sides of the High Street roadway.  This is similar to a design strategy used by ODOT on the Spring Street and Long Street bridges over I-71 on the eastern edge of downtown.  Below is an aerial of those new Spring and Long Street bridges built by ODOT:

47849806071_1006092c5a_b_d.jpg

 

Long Street is most similar to what ODOT is proposing at High Street.  Long Street received park space on only one side of the roadway (whereas High Street will get park space on both sides).  However, Long Street has a narrower roadway than High Street - and Long Street also received an elaborate cultural mural wall on the side that did not receive park space.  Here are a couple of ground-level views of how Long Street turned out:

40882973643_94ec29e9da_b_d.jpg

47797637722_7202b69dbc_b_d.jpg

 

 

Broad Street over I-71 seems to be getting more the Spring Street treatment rather than the Long Street redo.  Planters and screening walls are being proposed for the Broad Street bridge instead of park space:

47797639032_72de123aca_b_d.jpg

https://www.dispatch.com/news/20190512/detours-ahead-construction-bringing-big-changes-to-i-70-downtown

 

The above linked article details this year’s work on I-70/ I-71 Downtown:

  • Fulton Street Ramp -- The biggest project will be the construction of a new ramp from eastbound Fulton Street to eastbound I-70, which is scheduled to open July 2021.  This ramp will replace the existing 3rd Street ramp to I-70 east that will be closing in September.
  • Reconstructing and widening I-70 east from South 4th Street to Miller Avenue.
  • Building a new ramp from I-70 east to Parsons Avenue.  Parsons Avenue between East Main Street and Livingston Avenue will close for 60 days beginning in August to accommodate this project.
  • Reconstructing Mooberry Street from Parsons Avenue to South 18th Street.
  • Reconstructing Fulton Street from South 3rd Street to South 4th Street

From what I understand the High Street bridge isn't currently funded, only the Front Street bridge is. The project with the Front Street bridge (4R) is slated to go to bid next year and will also build the new exit to Fulton St from 70 EB and 71 NB. The High Street bridge has been broken out into its own project (4H). Third and Fourth would be under another project (4B). 

 

The city, ODOT, and MORPC are currently going after a $40 million federal INFRA grant to fund and build all three of those phases at once - http://www.morpc.org/columbuscrossroads/

 

An interesting tidbit regarding the caps --

Quote

While Phase 4 improvements currently include dual sixty foot wide green caps for both the High Street Bridge and Third Street Bridge, both of these bridges will also have the ability to support commercial caps on both sides. The City of Columbus has already completed a feasibility study for a commercial cap on the High Street Bridge over I-70/71. It believes the value of this new economic development opportunity is significant enough that a developer will be quickly identified.

Edited by .justin

Does this whole project rely on Front Street remaining one-way? Front needs to be converted to two-ways YESTERDAY. It was planned as far back as 2013 and still not done. It's one of the most infuriating things the city hasn't done (to me). COTA's downtown routes would improve DRASTICALLY.

 

Not to mention, Front Street is kinda ugly. Like 90% of it.

Edited by Zyrokai

^Front Street can be made two way when the bridge is rebuilt and ramp onto Fulton is completed (basically phase 4), which is funded. 

  • 4 months later...

https://www.thisweeknews.com/news/20191001/major-traffic-headaches-coming-this-fall-for-drivers-on-i-70-downtown

 

Quote

The ramps from eastbound Interstate 70 to 18th Street and from 3rd Street to eastbound 70 will close for good in November. But first, the traffic pattern for eastbound 70 and drivers exiting that stretch of highway for northbound 71 will flip on Oct. 12. The changes are part of the latest phase of the Columbus Crossroads project, which began in 2011 as a plan to untangle Downtown highways and interchanges.

 

This is so incredibly dumb, I'm surprised it got approved.  There will be no ramp to I-70 East out of the downtown area for two years.

Very Stable Genius

On 10/1/2019 at 1:46 PM, DarkandStormy said:

https://www.thisweeknews.com/news/20191001/major-traffic-headaches-coming-this-fall-for-drivers-on-i-70-downtown

 

 

This is so incredibly dumb, I'm surprised it got approved.  There will be no ramp to I-70 East out of the downtown area for two years.

Quote

 Permanently closing the ramp from eastbound 70 to 18th Street in November. That will be replaced around the same time by a new ramp, just west of the existing one, exiting to Parsons Avenue.

Dark&Stormy was only half right. The 3rd St closure, Fulton St replacement will be 2 years (hopefully).

3 hours ago, Magyar said:

Dark&Stormy was only half right. The 3rd St closure, Fulton St replacement will be 2 years (hopefully).

 

If I'm downtown, is there a ramp I can take to 70E?

Very Stable Genius

^Traffic will be detoured down Livingston to Miller/Kelton or Alum Creek entrance ramps. Of course, you can also get on parts of 71, 670, and 315 and make your way to 70 East as well. 

On ‎10‎/‎6‎/‎2019 at 6:36 AM, ink said:

^Traffic will be detoured down Livingston to Miller/Kelton or Alum Creek entrance ramps. Of course, you can also get on parts of 71, 670, and 315 and make your way to 70 East as well. 

 

I mean, yes, I'm aware there are detours (that aren't convenient).  Maygar was saying the new exiting ramp to Parsons would be a replacement for the 3rd St/Fulton exit that is permanently closing.

Very Stable Genius

15 minutes ago, DarkandStormy said:

 

I mean, yes, I'm aware there are detours (that aren't convenient).  Maygar was saying the new exiting ramp to Parsons would be a replacement for the 3rd St/Fulton exit that is permanently closing.

 

The new exit ramp to Parsons from 70 EB replaces the exit ramp to 18th St from 70 EB. It will should be opening the same time the 18th St exit closes. (From what I understand, due to hospital access requirements the 18th St exit cannot close until the new Parsons Ave exit opens)

 

Once the 3rd St ramp closes in November, there will not be a direct on-ramp to 70 EB from downtown until summer 2021.

While the new Parsons exit doesn't replace the 3rd Street entrance ramp, the opening of the Parsons ramp does mean 3rd Street must close because they are so close together. 

  • 2 months later...

AR-191218780.jpg

 

New ramp from I-70 eastbound near Nationwide Children’s Hospital to open Friday

 

A new exit ramp from eastbound I-70 to Parsons Avenue will open before the morning commute Friday, replacing the 18th Street exit.  The new ramp will take traffic to the intersection of Parsons Avenue and Mooberry Street.

 

The shifting exit ramps are part of ODOT's longstanding multiphase Columbus Crossroads project (i.e. I-70/I-71 Split).  The current $67 million piece involves reconstructing and widening eastbound I-70 between South 4th Street and Miller Avenue, building new ramps and reconstructing portions of Mooberry and Parsons.  New traffic signals also have been installed at Parsons and Mooberry, which will begin operating Friday.

 

In November, ODOT permanently closed the 3rd Street ramp to eastbound I-70.  It plans to open a replacement ramp from Fulton Avenue near Grant Avenue in the summer of 2021.  Closing the 18th Street ramp will give construction crews room to rebuild I-70 over Parsons Avenue.

  • 3 months later...

Broad Street Ramps to Close, Future Phase of 70/71 Project Delayed

 

Two ramps that connect I-71 to Broad Street Downtown will close permanently on April 9 – the I-71 South exit to Broad Street and the Broad Street on-ramp to I-71 North.  The other two Broad Street ramps are due to close later in the year.  All of the closing will be permanent, part of the larger re-arranging of the Downtown highways that is known as the I-70/71 split.

 

Although this portion of the project is continuing to move forward, future phases are already being impacted by the Coronavirus pandemic.

 

The Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) announced on March 25 that Phase 4R of the project – which includes a new South Front Street bridge, a new ramp from I-70 eastbound to West Fulton Street and a new bridge over Short Street – is now scheduled to start in 2021 instead of later this year, as originally planned.

 

MORE:  https://www.columbusunderground.com/broad-street-ramps-to-close-future-phase-of-70-71-project-delayed-bw1

  • 3 months later...

Parsons Avenue bridge over I-70 in Columbus closed for two months

 

Future traffic on Parsons Avenue just south of Downtown will travel under eastbound Interstate 70 instead of over the top of the highway.  On Monday, the Ohio Department of Transportation closed Parsons between Main and Mooberry streets, including the bridge, for two months.  Construction crews will demolish the existing bridge that carries traffic over the highway, and replace it with a new span for eastbound I-70 over Parsons.

 

Parsons already runs underneath westbound I-70 and the Mound Street Connector for westbound traffic to exit Downtown.  The new bridge will shift eastbound I-70 lanes north to be closer to the westbound lanes.  Crews already have built piers for the new bridge, ODOT spokeswoman Breanna Badanes said.  They will install the beams now that Parsons has closed.

 

The so-called Downtown Ramp Up, formerly known as Columbus Crossroads, also has affected several ramps, including the permanent closure of the eastbound I-70 ramp from 3rd Street.  That ramp is being replaced with a new one from Fulton Street. ... This phase of work, including the new ramp from Fulton Street to eastbound I-70, is expected to be complete by fall 2021.

 

MORE:  https://www.dispatch.com/news/20200706/parsons-avenue-bridge-over-i-70-in-columbus-closed-for-two-months

  • 2 months later...

00Svf5.jpg

 

Parsons and the East Interchange

Closed Parsons south of the new I-70 overpass (Sat. 9-12-20)

00dqJT.jpg

 

Looking west from the new 18th Street bridge

00d4pF.jpg

 

00dBSb.jpg

 

Parsons before Mooberry (Mon. 9-14-20)

007SQ3.jpg

 

007z8F.jpg

 

Looking east from Parsons down the relocated Mooberry Street

007Hur.jpg

 

Looking north towards I-70 Bridge

007Om7.jpg

 

Looking south towards I-70 Bridge

00747z.jpg

 

I-71 South to I-70 East

0077Ib.jpg

 

New Mound Street Bridge / I-70 West DWTN access

007KUT.jpg

 

007myC.jpg

 

East Innerbelt 

Looking south towards Broad from the east end of the Long Street bridge

00dmx7.jpg

 

00SnpC.jpg

  • 1 month later...

Phase 3B Progress from Long Street (Sat. 10-17-20)

0kgjnM.jpg

 

East Interchange from Ohio Avenue

0kZ77k.jpg

  • 3 weeks later...

South Innerbelt (Sat. 11-7-20)

0qrN71.jpg

 

South Grant Avenue Bridge - Phase 2G

0qrBBT.jpg

 

Phase 2E

0qrq0z.jpg

 

East Fulton Street - Phase 2G

0qrRYm.jpg


0qr1qP.jpg

 

0qrt0Z.jpg

 

The future site of the Fulton Street to I-70 East & I-71 North entrance ramp

0qr9f5.jpg

 

0qrQ1v.jpg

 

0qrCx2.jpg

 

Fulton Street to I-70 East & I-71 North Bridge

0qr6S9.jpg

 

East Mound Street - Phase 2C

0qrE2i.jpg

  • 3 weeks later...

New tunnel ramp opens Downtown, connects I-70 east to I-71 north

 

The Ohio Department of Transportation has opened a new tunnel ramp Downtown connecting I-70 eastbound to I-71 northbound, with the aim to reduce congestion and vehicle crashes at that junction.

 

The new ramp, which opened Tuesday, is a part of one $80 million phase of ODOT's Downtown Ramp Up project, which is comprised of 19 different construction phases costing a total $1.4 billion.

 

Completion of the tunnel ramp work, which started in fall 2019, is part of ODOT's efforts to "untangle the weave of the (Interstates) 70-71 split," said ODOT regional spokesperson Breanna Badanes.

 

MORE:  https://www.thisweeknews.com/story/news/2020/11/24/new-downtown-tunnel-ramp-opens-70-east-and-71-north-split/6408051002/

  • 3 months later...

This thing is big. The south innerbelt will be around 12 lanes here at the Grant Avenue overpass. (3-21-21)

ImbijM.jpg

 

ImXxhr.jpg

 

ImX56F.jpg

 

The last segment of the Fulton Street to I-70 East & I-71 North Bridge is in place. This on-ramp should open sometime this summer, replacing the 3rd Street ramp which was permanently closed in 2019.

ImbEfK.jpg

 

ImbR11.jpg

 

ImbtwH.jpg

 

ImbgCk.jpg

 

The future I-70 bridge over the I-71 North ramp. 

ImbTKc.jpg

 

On the East Innerbelt, work is continuing on extending Lester Dr. and Elijah Pierce Ave. south to Broad. 

ImbdS9.jpg

 

In the same phase, work also continues on the new Board Street bridge. I-71 will be 11 lanes wide here. 

ImbCqP.jpg

I just drove through this/by this on Saturday. It's pretty crazy how much work is going on. The amount of engineering is insane.

I forget, how many travel-through lanes will I-70 westbound from the split through downtown be?  Last I drive that section, it was literally one lane for I-70 west (Dayton).

"You don't just walk into a bar and mix it up by calling a girl fat" - buildingcincinnati speaking about new forumers

12 hours ago, ColDayMan said:

I forget, how many travel-through lanes will I-70 westbound from the split through downtown be?  Last I drive that section, it was literally one lane for I-70 west (Dayton).

 

When the current phase (Project 2E) is finished I-70 westbound will be returned to 2 lanes.

 

Ultimately, after Projects 4R and 6R are finished (which have not begun construction yet but are the next ones scheduled) there will be 2 dedicated lanes for both directions of I-70 and both directions of I-71 through the entire split.

 

 

ODOT also posted a few photos of the recent beam placement:

 

 

  • 3 weeks later...

Two overhead photos from this Dispatch article about ODOT's construction season this year:

 

image.png.5eef3901b2ce782d076830c4f8e54bd3.png

 

image.png.e011027a547050f0699ea471b26160d3.png

On 5/15/2019 at 11:58 AM, .justin said:

From what I understand the High Street bridge isn't currently funded, only the Front Street bridge is. The project with the Front Street bridge (4R) is slated to go to bid next year and will also build the new exit to Fulton St from 70 EB and 71 NB. The High Street bridge has been broken out into its own project (4H). Third and Fourth would be under another project (4B). 

 

The city, ODOT, and MORPC are currently going after a $40 million federal INFRA grant to fund and build all three of those phases at once - http://www.morpc.org/columbuscrossroads/

 

An interesting tidbit regarding the caps --

Was there ever any movement on phase 4H?  Looking at the I-70/I-71 Downtown Ramp Up page, it looks like the High St bridge replacement is still part of phase 4B that is scheduled to take place from 2023-2026.  It would be awesome if the High St bridge actually started with phase 4R that is scheduled to start later this year according to the Ramp Up page.

Under design-build, things start when they start. 

4 hours ago, TH3BUDDHA said:

Was there ever any movement on phase 4H?  Looking at the I-70/I-71 Downtown Ramp Up page, it looks like the High St bridge replacement is still part of phase 4B that is scheduled to take place from 2023-2026.  It would be awesome if the High St bridge actually started with phase 4R that is scheduled to start later this year according to the Ramp Up page.

 

The exact timing keeps changing based on how ODOT can get the projects funded... I believe now 4H and 4B are going to be built at the same time, which will replace High St, 3rd St, and 4th St bridges all at once. ODOT is also lumping in the reconstruction of the two existing bridges over the Scioto as part of that project. I'm not sure whether all of that work is fully funded yet or not -- they're apparently seeking federal INFRA grants for these phases again.

 

From what I understand 4R and 6R will now be bid out at the same time, which is planned for late this year. Originally they were going to be bid separately. 4R builds the new exit to downtown/Front St and the new Front St bridge, 6R builds new onramps to 70W and 71S from Mound St and the new ramp from 70W to 71S.

  • 2 weeks later...

Stumbled on this -- in March the city put out an RFP for a 3rd Street Cap Viability Study, to look into whether private development would be viable on the bridge and on a piece of land adjacent to the bridge.

 

Quote

The City of Columbus (“City”), in partnership with the Ohio Department of Transportation (“ODOT”), is requesting proposals for the viability of commercial development on a proposed building cap over Interstate 70/71 on 3rd Street between Livingston Ave. and Fulton St. in Downtown Columbus, Ohio (3rd St. Bridge”) and on one acre of adjacent land, see Exhibit A for map.

 

The City of Columbus is looking for a team of professionals to examine the feasibility of private development on and adjacent to the 3rd Street Bridge that will be reconstructed with ODOT’s Columbus Crossroads Phase 4B project. The City and ODOT seek to develop the property consistent with the goals of the surrounding neighborhoods and in a complimentary fashion with the public infrastructure projects being undertaken in the area.

 

The City seeks professional services that includes the necessary disciplines to ensure a thorough exploration of commercial viability is undertaken such that the City and ODOT can make a final determination on the inclusion of a building cap into the Columbus Crossroads Phase 4B project. The team must demonstrate relevant experience and financial success in evaluating similar urban development projects and a detailed understanding of the neighborhoods surrounding the project. The team members must demonstrate relevant experience in architecture, landscape architecture, civil engineering, and environmental remediation.

 

image.png.1cd177485269ef2d3d56fdde0fed8665.png

 

For context here is the overhead rendering of Phase 4B:

 

image.thumb.png.b8adb8f82124702f124c4b493efb6ab4.png

  • 1 month later...

Front Street Bridge to be Replaced as I-70/71 Split Project Continues

 

70-71-split-phase-4R-620x333.jpg

 

The next phase of the Ohio Department of Transportation’s I-70/71 split project is now back on track and scheduled to begin early next year.

 

As part of that phase, the South Front Street bridge that spans the freeway between the Brewery District and Downtown will be replaced with a new, wider bridge that will feature landscaped sidewalks and a park-like walkway on one side.

 

ODOT had announced last March that Phase 4R of the project – which includes the new Front Street bridge, a new ramp from I-70 eastbound to West Fulton Street, and improvements to Fulton Street and Livingston Avenue – would be delayed due to pandemic-related funding concerns.

 

More below:

https://www.columbusunderground.com/i-70-71-split-project-moving-forward-front-street-bridge-to-be-replaced-bw1

 

70-71-split-Front-st-bridge-2-1150x550.j

"You don't just walk into a bar and mix it up by calling a girl fat" - buildingcincinnati speaking about new forumers

City of Columbus contribution to mega-highway project adding up

 

The ongoing reconstruction of the Interstates 70/71 interchange Downtown isn't just a state and federal mega-project.  Columbus city taxpayers are also slated to kick in $95 million in local bond money.

 

Columbus City Council on May 24 approved the latest $4.65 million toward the project, bringing the city's contribution to date to about $51 million, with another $44 million left to be contributed in future phases.  "Our spending so far funded major roadway infrastructure work on city streets that are connected to the I-70/I-71 corridor," said Debbie Briner, a spokeswoman with the city Department of Public Service.

 

When done, the interchange hopefully will no longer be home to three of the state's top-10 crash locations.  It will provide additional lanes in each direction on both I-70 and I-71, including two continuous lanes for I-70 east and west and for I-71 north and south through Downtown, eliminating 70% of the required lane changes in the interchange.

 

The roadwork also will eliminate entrance and exit ramps at Downtown street intersections, creating safer pedestrian crossings and replacing bridges that span the highway with wider, "pedestrian-friendly structures with parking and landscape design."  Rather than exiting and entering the freeway at numerous Downtown ramps, motorist will do so north and west of Downtown on new roads parallel to the highway.

( . . . )

The total cost of the ODOT project is currently estimated at $1.4 billion.  The massive project kicked off almost a decade ago on Sept. 1, 2011. 

 

MORE:  https://www.dispatch.com/story/news/2021/06/01/columbus-pay-total-95-million-toward-new-71-i-70-interchange/7473326002/

  • 1 month later...

Downtown Columbus Abandoned Overpass To Come Down in 2022

Michael Lee - WOSU - July 6, 2021

 

dji-0016.jpg

 

"An Ohio Department of Transportation spokesperson said construction to tear the overpass down last year was paused due to COVID-19. ... But now, it’s slated to come down in 2022. And ODOT said they need to demolish it as a part of their project to widen I-70 and I-71. They added that if it had previously been in use — or if they repurposed it for other uses — they would have to tear it down and replace it. But since it’s not, it will be a complete removal to save time and money."

 

Create an account or sign in to comment

Recently Browsing 0

  • No registered users viewing this page.