Commuters and residents are hitting a snag in their daily travel as a fire has led to the ongoing closure of Interstate 471 in the southbound direction at the Ohio River. The closure affects the route toward Newport, Kentucky, from Cincinnati, Ohio, impacting the busy Daniel Carter Beard Bridge, commonly used to span the river between the two states.
The Cincinnati Fire Department responded to a reported blaze early in the morning on November 1, encountering the conflagration on Pete Rose Way under the Ohio approach to the bridge. Flames and smoke were visible, enveloping the bridge above, as firefighters tackled the sizeable outdoor fire at Sawyer Point Park's playground. The spectacle of the fire captured the city's attention, but the interruption to the critical flow of inter-state commerce and movement was more pressing.
As a result of the incident, the Ohio Department of Transportation advises that the southbound I-471 will remain closed until further notice, with traffic diverted to I-71 and I-75 South. For those behind the wheels of heavy trucks, ODOT recommends using I-275 to merge onto I-71/75 to avoid further delays. Special instructions have also been issued for HAZMAT operators to utilize the I-275 outer belt, as detailed in a press release from the Ohio Department of Transportation.
Adding to the list of roadblocks, specific downtown Cincinnati routes have seen restrictions due to the incident. Notably, Liberty Street and 5th Street accesses to I-471 have been closed off, along with U.S. 50 East and West connections to I-471, although U.S. 50 itself remains navigable for through traffic. Across the river in Kentucky, drivers are cautioned of a single-lane closure on the northbound lanes of I-471 starting at marker 3.6 near Memorial Parkway extending across the bridge.
While the Cincinnati Fire Department has yet to determine the cause of the fire, Cincinnati Parks continues to post updates regarding the park, surrounding area restrictions, and roadway reopenings. Community members looking for real-time changes and information can follow the provided updates here.
