Cincinnati drivers are about to lose a key West End ramp for the long haul as the Ohio Department of Transportation kicks off preliminary work on the Linn Street Reconstruction next week. The multi-year project will rebuild the Linn Street bridge over I-75 and replace the pedestrian span over Winchell Avenue. As crews move in, the ramp to Winchell Avenue from I-75 North, along with access from 9th and 6th streets, will close at 6 p.m. on Sunday and stay shut for multiple years. Drivers should plan for detours and long-term lane changes as work rolls toward a projected 2029 finish.
What’s Closing and When
According to the Ohio Department of Transportation, the Winchell Avenue ramp that can be reached from I-75 North and from 9th and 6th streets will shut down at 6 p.m. on Sunday and will remain closed through May 2029. The Linn Street overpass will be rebuilt with two 10-foot driving lanes, plus bike lanes and sidewalks on both sides, and the pedestrian bridge over Winchell Avenue will be removed and replaced as part of the same effort. ODOT states that Great Lakes Construction Company holds the $46.7 million contract and that lane and ramp changes will be phased to preserve as much local access as possible during construction.
Detours and Early Disruptions
Local reporting indicates that crews have already started staging equipment and performing utility preparation work nearby, with signs and posted detours going up to direct traffic around the closures. As reported by WLWT, Gest Street has also been closed in the area while crews relocate a water main, and drivers are being routed along Freeman Avenue, W. 8th Street, and other local streets. Commuters should be ready for short-term daytime lane shifts as well as longer-term reroutes as the project moves into heavier construction phases.
Part of a Much Bigger Corridor Overhaul
The Linn Street project is one piece of the eight-mile Brent Spence Bridge Corridor overhaul, which includes a new companion bridge, ramp reconfigurations, and new pedestrian and bike connections intended to ease freight and commuter bottlenecks. Project officials unveiled a cable-stayed independent-deck design for the companion bridge last year, according to the Brent Spence Bridge Corridor project site. That corridor work has already triggered other nearby closures and utility relocations to clear room for the larger reconstruction push.
What Drivers Need To Know
According to the Ohio Department of Transportation, commuters are encouraged to download the OHGO app or visit OHGO.com for personalized traffic alerts and detour maps. ODOT District 8 public information staff can be reached at 513-933-6517 or 513-933-6534. Drivers should expect alternating lane and ramp access in the coming months and leave extra travel time around the West End and Queensgate neighborhoods as longer-term reconstruction ramps up. ODOT notes that the full Linn Street project is scheduled to wrap up in late spring 2029 under the contract awarded to Great Lakes Construction Company.
