Attention Cincinnati drivers: The Western Hills Viaduct, a key artery in the Tri-State area's transportation network, is under scrutiny once again due to structural concerns. According to Local 12, both lanes of the viaduct's lower deck were shut down today from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. for an inspection by the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT), with the organization stating the inspection was routine but necessary given the visible wear on the structure's upper deck.
The inspection caused a significant impact on weekend traffic, and drivers had to navigate detours with parts of the viaduct closed the ramp from Interstate-75 to the lower deck through Harrison Avenue was also closed, but traffic was allowed on the upper deck while ODOT and crews from Michael Baker International Company conducted the inspections. The latter were tasked with assessing any potential deeper issues beyond cosmetic damage to the bridge, as reported by WLWT.
Fears about the viaduct's safety were stoked recently when images depicting fallen concrete and exposed steel went viral on social media. Stephan Pryor, a concerned citizen, voiced his apprehensions directly to city council, saying, "Western Hills Viaduct bridge needs to be fixed, it's falling down, you got cracks all in the bridge, you even have a net catching the rocks — you hear what I'm saying," in a statement detailed by WCPO. Despite the alarming images and public outcry, an ODOT spokesperson stated, "We did have someone go out yesterday and inspect the areas in question that have been getting a lot of attention on social media, but they didn't find anything out of the ordinary or anything different than what we have noted in our previous inspections."
While the full results of the latest inspections have yet to be revealed, and although the viaduct received all necessary funding for replacement in 2022, travelers are yet wary, still witnessing the bridge's deterioration, Stefan Pryor expressed his distrust in the structure's stability without mincing words, he sees it firsthand, commenting "I'm looking up, make sure nothing don't fall and knock [you.] I'd knock it away. I can save your life from a rock," reflecting the sentiments of many who pass through the ageing infrastructure, as per Local 12.
