Early alert for travelers heading south on Interstate 75 later this month: You'll need a Plan B once you hit Freeman Avenue.
The southbound lanes of the interstate will be closed from Freeman Avenue to the West Eighth/Ninth Street entrance ramp from 11 p.m. Oct. 16 through 5 a.m. Oct. 19.
Crews will continue work to remake the Linn Street bridge during the closure, installing girders for the rebuilt structure.
Remade Linn Street bridge to reopen fall 2027
The Linn Street bridge, located between West Court and West Eighth streets, came down in April as part of the giant Brent Spence Bridge Corridor project. When rebuilt, it will include two driving lanes (down from five), with bike lanes and sidewalks on either side.
When reopened in fall of 2027, the remade bridge should better connect Cincinnati's
West End and Queensgate neighborhoods, according to transportation officials.
And, importantly, the Linn Street reconstruction is making room for the new "companion bridge" over the Ohio River, the key element of the $4.4 billion-plus Brent Spence Bridge project. That work officially began May 8, with a groundbreaking event. The original Linn Street span included a pier in the path of work related to the companion bridge.
Closure includes entrance from Western Hills Viaduct, too
Just weeks after officials closed northbound I-75 for Linn Street work, here's what's in store for the southbound side:
- The I-75 south entrance from the Western Hills Viaduct will close at 9 p.m. Oct. 16.
- I-75 south at the Freeman exit will close at 11 p.m., with access to Freeman maintained. The closure will extend to the West Eighth/Ninth Street ramp.
- The closed span will reopen by 5 a.m. Oct. 19.
Drivers should take the Norwood Lateral (State Route 562) to Interstate 71 to get around the closure. They can also travel Freeman, Mehring Way, and Elm and Third streets to re-enter I-71/75 south.
If the closure is postponed for weather or other reasons, it will happen Nov. 6-9, according to the project's website.
Linn Street one of many road changes tied to Brent Spence project
In addition to building a brand-new, yet-to-be-named bridge to the immediate west of the Brent Spence bridge, the project will include these changes on the Ohio side of the river:
- Widening and reconstruction of about three miles of I-75.
- A new interchange between I-75 and what will be a new Western Hills Viaduct.
- Improvements of the Ezzard Charles Drive exit, along with Gest and Court streets.
- Removal of I-75 left-hand exits, reconstruction of ramps on and off the interstate, and replacement of bridges over the interstate.
Drivers can sign up for emails and text alerts about traffic impacts related to the Brent Spence project.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: I-75 south downtown to close again for bridge-related construction
