Drivers heading downtown from Indian Hill, Madeira, Mariemont, Terrace Park and Sycamore Township will need to plan extra time starting Friday, Sept. 25. Interstate 75 will shut down in both directions for the entire weekend.

The Ohio Department of Transportation announced in a Wednesday, Sept. 16, press release that I-75 North and South will close between Freeman Avenue and the I-71/75 split from 11 p.m. Friday, Sept. 25, until 5 a.m. Monday, Sept. 28. Crews from Great Lakes Construction will use the 54-hour window to install bridge beams as part of the Linn Street Bridge Replacement and Reconstruction project.

Ramp closures begin earlier.

Entrance ramps from Fort Washington Way, Fourth Street and Sixth Street will close at 9 p.m. Friday, Sept. 25, for northbound traffic. On the southbound side, the Western Hills Viaduct ramp to I-75 South closes at the same time. Single-lane closures start at 9 p.m. and expand to full shutdowns by 11 p.m.

Detours for east-side commuters

East-side residents who use I-71 South to connect to I-75 will hit the closure zone. ODOT's signed detour for southbound through-traffic routes drivers via eastbound S.R. 562, also known as the Norwood Lateral, and I-71 South to reach I-75 at the Brent Spence Bridge. Northbound through-traffic follows I-71 North to westbound S.R. 562.

Drivers needing downtown access can still exit at West Fifth Street or U.S. 50 West/River Road, then follow local streets back to I-75 North via Linn Street, West Eighth Street and Freeman Avenue.

ODOT said truck traffic should use the I-275 outerbelt to bypass Cincinnati entirely during the closure, according to Fox 19.

Ramp closure lasts through January

A second, longer disruption begins Sunday evening, Sept. 27. The ramp from eastbound U.S. 50, the West Sixth Street Viaduct, to southbound I-75 will close at or after 8:30 p.m. that night and stay closed for about four months, through January 2027. That closure supports construction of a new U.S. 50 East-to-I-75 South alignment as part of the Brent Spence Bridge Corridor project.

Drivers who use that ramp will instead follow the S.R. 264/West Fifth Street downtown off-ramp to Central Avenue and West Ninth Street to enter I-75 South.

The bigger picture

Great Lakes Construction holds a $46.7 million contract for the Linn Street project. Linn Street is expected to reopen to traffic in fall 2027, with all work finishing by late spring 2029.

ODOT has not announced a backup weekend if weather delays the beam installation. Residents can check for updates through a post from ODOT's Cincinnati district on X.