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7 hours ago, jmecklenborg said:

Given the minor controversy surrounding the "Castellini" viaduct that would have connected Central Parkway with South Cumminsville

 

Do you have more info on this? I wasn't in Cincy at the time so I haven't heard of this.

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  • Anyone wanna form a COAST-like group that opposes highway spending instead?

  • The original image is wrong. It's in front of Dixie Terminal and is actually facing east. Third and Central was the location of Cincinnati Union Station, the remains which are still present on the ret

  • I reached out to ODOT and got clarification on this. The representative admitted they don't have a great document for viewing the design (SMDH) of this interchange but provided this: https://www.dropb

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15 minutes ago, DEPACincy said:

 

Do you have more info on this? I wasn't in Cincy at the time so I haven't heard of this.

 

Once Cranley was elected, a ramp from 74 to Central Pkwy at Cincinnati State was the only project for which the city applied for TIGER funding. The funding was denied a couple times.

30 minutes ago, Robuu said:

 

Once Cranley was elected, a ramp from 74 to Central Pkwy at Cincinnati State was the only project for which the city applied for TIGER funding. The funding was denied a couple times.

 

Actually I believe they also blew one on funding the Wasson Way bike trail, even though the TIGER grants explicitly did not fund bike trails.  Imagine being the city elf tasked with that multi-week writing chore!

1 hour ago, jmecklenborg said:

 

Actually I believe they also blew one on funding the Wasson Way bike trail, even though the TIGER grants explicitly did not fund bike trails.  Imagine being the city elf tasked with that multi-week writing chore!

 

That's not true. Trails were eligible for TIGER grants. When I worked in Philly we got multiple TIGER grants to help fund the Schuylkill River Trail.

4 hours ago, DEPACincy said:

 

Do you have more info on this? I wasn't in Cincy at the time so I haven't heard of this.

 

Here is a graphic illustrating what was proposed.  I think a lot of developers have wanted to build there since it has prime visibility from both I-75 and I-74, but access to the area is now worse than ever since I-75 reconstruction permanently eliminated several access points.  

 

 

elmore.png

Oh, geez, it was from Elmore and Dreman. I forgot just how nutty that proposal was.

20 minutes ago, Robuu said:

Oh, geez, it was from Elmore and Dreman. I forgot just how nutty that proposal was.

 

It might not be possible given the configuration of the new I-74 ramps, but it always made more sense in my opinion to build a new viaduct from the base of Colerain Ave. at Dreman up to Central Parkway.  And it made no sense to build such a lightly-traveled bridge as a 4-lane structure.  I understand that it might only cost 10% more to build a deck that's twice as wide, but it still seemed wildly overbuilt. 

https://www.google.com/maps/@39.1538179,-84.5429519,1538m/data=!3m1!1e3

Does Bob Castellini actually “do” anything other than happen to own the Reds and propose dumb projects for the city to waste their time on?

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

55 minutes ago, BigDipper 80 said:

Does Bob Castellini actually “do” anything other than happen to own the Reds and propose dumb projects for the city to waste their time on?

 

He owns Castellini Inc., which sold its fruit wholesaling operation on the riverfront in the late 90s and relocated to Wilder, KY.  The family was wealthy for decades prior, however.

https://castellinicompany.com/

 

 

On 12/26/2019 at 11:17 PM, jmecklenborg said:

I just ran across this pre-2010 graphic saved on my computer.  The interchange is being rebuilt as we speak largely as shown here, but without the elevated light rail wye leftover from the 2002 Metromoves plan.  But what's more interesting is the absence of the I-74E ramp to Central Parkway (shown in yellow).  Given the minor controversy surrounding the "Castellini" viaduct that would have connected Central Parkway with South Cumminsville, I have to wonder aloud if the yellow ramp was eliminated from the plans with the hope that funds could have been shifted to it.  If that is the case, then the $40+ million bridge is absolutely still on the books and we have to wonder if the SORTA infrastructure tax aims to fund its construction since TIGER did not. 

 

 

 

northside-1.jpg

 

Isn't a similar flyover ramp now being proposed for I-75 and Galbraith (inside the already-tangled I-75/Cross County Highway interchange), so that they can eliminate the left hand exit?

  • 5 months later...
On 3/28/2017 at 5:22 PM, taestell said:

Hey Travis, I'm looking for these drawings and the website domain hasn't been updated. Does anyone have access to drawings showing what it happening at this interchange?

 

3 hours ago, Chas Wiederhold said:

Hey Travis, I'm looking for these drawings and the website domain hasn't been updated. Does anyone have access to drawings showing what it happening at this interchange?

 

Weird that ODOT let that domain expire. I have uploaded the maps here.

You rock! Thank you so much!

Speaking of interstates, does anyone have any idea when the I-71 project (I would guess it's considered Red Bank to Ridge Road exit?) is supposed to be finished? I legit have not been able to find one thing on this project (cost, timeline, reasons for doing it, etc.)

 

I am sure it is out there somewhere, I get frustrated trying to look, I assume someone here knows?

  • 3 months later...

9/20/20:

city_40.jpg

 

city_43.jpg

 

city_42.jpg

  • 1 month later...

^ Notice that there is no cost listed for the whole project, but if you expand each section, there is a price listed for each individual phase. Add them all up and you'll find that it's going to cost $424 million to widen this ~6 mile stretch of I-75.

It's going to cost $22-32 million just to replace the railroad bridge over I-75 south.  No doubt the cost range is so fluid because steel prices have increased wildly in the past 2-3 years thanks to the China tariffs.  

 

The increased cost of structural steel and rebar caused the 6-mile Federal Way light rail extension to increase in cost by over $400 million.

 

I kind of wonder if the $22-32 million price includes a complete replacement of the railroad bridge or just the section over I-75.  No doubt the single-track phasing is going to be very costly to the railroad so it's possible that ODOT is forced to pay them some sort of compensation for their reduced capacity, which probably includes a slow speed requirement in addition to the single-tracking.

 

 https://www.google.com/maps/@39.2140374,-84.4610873,180m/data=!3m1!1e3

 

What's really crazy about this is that there was a lot of controversy 5~ years ago over the planned elimination of the NB exit to Galbraith, which is a left-side exit.  That exit was forced to the left-hand side because construction of Cross-County back in 1990 used up the right lane.  

 

Meanwhile, the high cost ($22-32) of merely improving the Galbraith Rd. exit in its current position doesn't help 75SB traffic reach Cross County Highway.  What's really weird is that it seems like they could quite easily create a connection between I-75S and Cross County West by having a lane from SB Gailbraith pass under Galbraith and merge into the Cross County westbound on-ramp.  That area is already hairy but Cross County already has stop lights and other weird features.  

 

  • 1 month later...

I didn't realize that the Interstate 75 to Interstate 74 west ramp will still use the original Colerain Avenue underpass from 1930.

7 minutes ago, seicer said:

I didn't realize that the Interstate 75 to Interstate 74 west ramp will still use the original Colerain Avenue underpass from 1930.

 

Yeah it's amazing. 

 

Also, the Hopple to N75 ramp was just separated from the I-74E to I-75N ramp.  It's way, way safer, for the time being. 

21 minutes ago, seicer said:

I didn't realize that the Interstate 75 to Interstate 74 west ramp will still use the original Colerain Avenue underpass from 1930.

 

Fascinating. I did think it was odd that they're going to keep that old overpass, but I had no idea that it was that old and pre-dated I-75.

15 minutes ago, taestell said:

 

Fascinating. I did think it was odd that they're going to keep that old overpass, but I had no idea that it was that old and pre-dated I-75.

 

Yeah it's just where Colerain Ave. traveled under the tracks.  It's got to be one of the only places where an interstate highway was threaded under a railroad bridge with stone abutments. 

I am kind of fascinated that they have been able to keep construction mostly within the existing right of way. It also kind of made me realize how much land they consumed that otherwise was wasted and became space for trash, brush and other unpleasant sights.

 

Instead of eartened embankments that take up a lot of space, we now use mechnically stabilized walls. And tight diamond-variant interchanges instead of a bunch of loops.

  • 4 weeks later...

On Sunday night a car crashed into the temporary construction barrier wall on I-75N at the I-74.  Three of five occupants of the car were killed:

https://www.cincinnati.com/story/news/2021/01/24/crash-closes-75-north-past-hopple-street-injuries-reported/6696428002/

 

This construction site has been a mess for the past two years.  The way that ODOT now keeps all lanes open during projects but narrows them and creates a contraflow lane might be statistically safer than how they used to do it with lane closures but catastrophic accidents keep happening. 

 

 

75.png

  • 2 months later...

They are installing  overhead ramp meters at union center.

20210427_143758.jpg

Edited by unusualfire
Typo

  • 2 years later...
  • 2 weeks later...
  • 1 month later...
On 12/28/2020 at 4:12 PM, taestell said:

spacer.png

 

 

The new I-75S to I-74W ramp is taking shape:

0-1_7mSx3mncMiBCwskNpMph9C.jpg?width=960

 

0-2.jpg?width=960&height=720&fit=bounds

 

Right now the problem with this junction is that I-75N and I-75S traffic travel at different speeds as they merge to form I-74W. 

 

I'm curious as to whether the new situation will be similar, but with the tables flipped.  I-75N traffic will still climb to create I-74W, but I-75S traffic will travel on a much wider curve and then descend to create I-74's left lane.  

 

The other big difference, of course, is that cars won't be compelled to pass across merging traffic to exit, as was the case in the past with the Elmore Ave. ramp, and as still exists with the Colerain Ave. exit.  

 

 

 

Edited by Lazarus

  • 1 month later...

Odot got tired I guess of replacing Ramp meters at Mitchell Ave. I seen car over them multiple times. They have now Installed overhead ramp meters. So far Northbound.

  • 3 months later...

Cross-posted in the Cincinnati historic photos thread

 

https://x.com/CarsRuinedCity/status/1732417239494860965?s=20

 

3rd and Central Streets, Cincinnati, Ohio. 25,000 people were displaced to build I-75 and the surrounding parking lots.
 

GArITB7WYAANjHI?format=jpg&name=900x900

 

"In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck

I love seeing these old photos of the city, but it makes me sad to know what was demolished.

Now and then when I see her face
She takes me away to that special place
And if I stare too long, I'd probably break down and cry

18 hours ago, KJP said:

Cross-posted in the Cincinnati historic photos thread

 

https://x.com/CarsRuinedCity/status/1732417239494860965?s=20

 

3rd and Central Streets, Cincinnati, Ohio. 25,000 people were displaced to build I-75 and the surrounding parking lots.
 

GArITB7WYAANjHI?format=jpg&name=900x900

 


The original image is wrong. It's in front of Dixie Terminal and is actually facing east. Third and Central was the location of Cincinnati Union Station, the remains which are still present on the retaining wall.

  • 2 months later...

The new flyover from 75 South to I-74 West is open.

Edited by unusualfire

On 2/26/2024 at 1:58 AM, unusualfire said:

The new flyover from 75 South to I-74 West is open.

 

...and it's amazing.  The sharpness of the climb seems to have been necessitated by the Ludlow Ave. overpass.  

 

Also, they have built a temporary bootleg Texas Turnaround at I-74 and Montana.  Needs to be seen to be believed. 

Such a phenomenal waste of money.

1 hour ago, JaceTheAce41 said:

Such a phenomenal waste of money.

I kept say that as I watched it being built. Does anyone know how much this ramp cost to build? One singular ramp for one direction of traffic.

44 minutes ago, TheCOV said:

I kept say that as I watched it being built. Does anyone know how much this ramp cost to build? One singular ramp for one direction of traffic.


$90 million

15 minutes ago, Dev said:


$90 million

Streetcar was a bargain in comparison.

5 minutes ago, TheCOV said:

Streetcar was a bargain in comparison.

Most transit projects are imo

On 2/26/2024 at 1:58 AM, unusualfire said:

The new flyover from 75 South to I-74 West is open.

What was the "problem" they wanted to solve with this? Was it just that the former ramp had a fairly sharp curve (20 mph suggested speed)? Or is this necessary to allow for the additional lane of traffic? I'm not totally sure what this reconfiguration does for the the 75NB tp 74WB ramp, but perhaps it allows more capacity there as well. I tried, unsuccessfully, to find a drawing showing the future reconfiguration. Anybody have a link or file showing how this spaghetti soup will be configured once all is done? 

 

Here's a Google Maps view showing the new ramp from 75SB to 74WB under construction:

 

spacer.png

 

 

1 hour ago, jwulsin said:

What was the "problem" they wanted to solve with this? Was it just that the former ramp had a fairly sharp curve (20 mph suggested speed)? Or is this necessary to allow for the additional lane of traffic? I'm not totally sure what this reconfiguration does for the the 75NB tp 74WB ramp, but perhaps it allows more capacity there as well. I tried, unsuccessfully, to find a drawing showing the future reconfiguration. Anybody have a link or file showing how this spaghetti soup will be configured once all is done? 

 

Here's a Google Maps view showing the new ramp from 75SB to 74WB under construction:

 

spacer.png

 

 

Yes, the turn is tight, but those (Northsiders) exiting to Beekman/Colerain will do so from I-75 now, I believe; still using the tight curve. The flying $90 million dollar ramp will be for those exiting the highway to Montana/West Fork. This gets rid of a condition where folks going from N I-75 to I-74 to Beekman/Colerain will not have to cross traffic with folks going from S I-75 to I-74 going to points beyond Beekman/Colerain and vice versa.

Edited by Chas Wiederhold

1 hour ago, jwulsin said:

What was the "problem" they wanted to solve with this?

 

 

 

 

This spot was total chaos.  It was like something out of Boston or NYC. 

 

I-75S traffic blindly merged onto I-74W while going uphill.  The railroad bridge blocked visibility so you really didn't know what was lurking around the bend.  One time I rounded the corner and a car was driving right at me...it had gotten on I-74 the wrong way. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

On 2/28/2024 at 11:35 AM, Chas Wiederhold said:

Yes, the turn is tight, but those (Northsiders) exiting to Beekman/Colerain will do so from I-75 now, I believe; still using the tight curve. The flying $90 million dollar ramp will be for those exiting the highway to Montana/West Fork. This gets rid of a condition where folks going from N I-75 to I-74 to Beekman/Colerain will not have to cross traffic with folks going from S I-75 to I-74 going to points beyond Beekman/Colerain and vice versa.

 

That is surprising to me, I thought the whole point was to eliminate that sharp turn. (The railroad bridge that the old ramp goes under wasn't even built as part of I-75 or I-74, it was the old bridge over Colerain Avenue and the new highway ramp was shoehorned into that opening.)

 

I can't find a recent plan on ODOT's website but here is an older version that I had saved. Obviously the plan has changed since then, as the new ramp doesn't have the split in the middle.

 

 

EA map sheet 6.jpg

Meanwhile in Liberty Township:

 

New Liberty Township interstate exit lands key state funding

 

The I-75/Millikin Road project will receive $9 million to acquire right of way and another $500,000 to design a new, diverging diamond interchange. [...]

 

The project will open up 700 acres for commercial development and “alleviate congestion,” according to the application. It has the backing of both the Butler and Warren county commissions.

 

Most studies have shown that highway and road expansions do not reduce congestion and instead create more usage by drivers, a concept known in the transportation industry as “induced demand.” When a roadway is expanded without tolling, people flock to use it almost immediately, erasing any reductions in congestion.

17 minutes ago, taestell said:

I can't find a recent plan on ODOT's website

Glad I wasn't the only one who couldn't find it... for such a large, expensive project, it doesn't seem like too much to ask for an updated rendering of the plans!

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