COLUMBUS, Ohio — The state Route 315 south ramp to Interstate 70 east will close starting next month as crews move into the next phase of improvements at I-70/71.
The ramp was originally scheduled to close on Saturday but was delayed. It will now close starting May 10 and will be shut down for several years as the project continues. The detour is SR-315 southbound to I-670 eastbound to I-71 southbound to I-70 eastbound.
Starting May 11, I-70 eastbound traffic will be shifted outside to the newly constructed bridges as crews begin to reconstruct the existing roadway.
The closure has been shifted to complete resurfacing work on I-670 to maintain the detour route.
I-70/71 Reconstruction update
I-70/71 will experience lane restrictions through downtown Columbus to widen and reconstruct the road, replace bridges over the interstate, rebuild ramps and construct new avenues parallel to the interstate.
The project is expected to be completed in August 2025.
Here are the new impacts on roads because of the reconstruction.
- I-71 northbound between Greenlawn Ave. and I-70 will have various overnight lane restrictions (6 p.m. - 5 a.m.) Sunday, April 28.
- The I-71 northbound ramp to Greenlawn Ave. will close overnight (7 p.m. - 5 a.m.) Sunday, April 28.
- Detour: I-71 northbound to I-70 westbound to Broad St. to I-70 eastbound to I-71 southbound to Greenlawn Ave.
- The Greenlawn Ave. ramp to I-71 northbound will close overnight (7 p.m. - 5 a.m.) Sunday, April 28.
- Detour: I-71 southbound to SR 104 eastbound to I-71 northbound
- The I-71 northbound ramp to I-70 eastbound/I-71 northbound will close overnight (9 p.m. - 12 a.m.) Sunday, April 28.
- Detour: SR 315 northbound to I-670 eastbound to I-71 southbound to I-70 eastbound
- The I-71 northbound ramp to I-70 westbound will close overnight (12 a.m. - 5 a.m.) Sunday, April 28.
- Detour: SR 315 northbound to U.S. 33 to SR 315 southbound to I-70 westbound
- I-70 westbound between 4th St. and Front St. will have various overnight lane restrictions (9 p.m. - 5 a.m.) Monday, April 29 through Thursday, May 2.
- The 3rd St. ramp to I-70 westbound will close overnight (9 p.m. - 5 a.m.) Monday, April 29 through Thursday, May 2.
- Detour: Mound St. westbound to I-70 westbound
Some other ramps and roads remain because of the construction projects. Below is the list of impacts and the detours around them.
- The I-70 eastbound exit ramp to Front St. closed permanently June 17, 2022 so crews can construct a new exit ramp. The detour is I-70 east to Livingston Ave. to N. 4th St. to W. Mound St. to High St. or Front St. To access the Franklin County Court House parking garage on Front St., drivers should follow the detour to southbound High St. and continue to Sycamore St. to northbound Front St.
- W. Fulton St. closed permanently June 17, 2022 between Short St. and Ludlow St.
- Livingston Ave. closed to through traffic at City Park Ave. on June 17, 2022 until Fall 2024. Traffic coming from the exit ramp will not be impacted.
- The traffic pattern on the ramp from SR 315 south to I-70 east changed June 17, 2022. Instead of SR 315 south traffic remaining in its own lane to join I-70 east, traffic coming from SR 315 south will have to merge with I-70 east traffic. This pattern will be in effect for a little more than a year.
- Beginning October 7th, 2022 Front St. converted to two-way traffic between W. Mound St. and W. Fulton St.
- The Front St. bridge over I-70closed Saturday, October 29, 2022 for bridge replacement until Spring 2025.
- Detour: W. Sycamore St. to High St. to Mound St. OR Main St. to High St. to W. Sycamore St.
- Mound St. between 2nd St. and Civic Center Dr. will close starting Wednesday, September 27, 2023 through Summer 2024. Access to I-70 westbound will be maintained.
- Detour: Main St. to High St. to Sycamore St. to Short St.