Drivers heading through downtown Columbus are in for fresh detours and slower trips starting tonight. Crews are set to shut down several major ramps at 9 p.m. Tuesday and keep them closed for about two weeks. The overnight work will hit crucial connections to I-70 and I-71 that many commuters and freight drivers depend on to move in and out of the city core, so expect to follow detour signs and pad your evening travel time while traffic shifts are in place.
Which Ramps Are Closing And Where To Go Instead
According to The Columbus Dispatch, the Ohio Department of Transportation will close the I-70 eastbound ramp to I-71 south, the I-71 south ramp to Greenlawn Avenue, and the West Mound Street ramp to I-70 east starting at 9 p.m. Tuesday for roughly two weeks. ODOT’s posted detours send some drivers to I-270 south to reach I-71 south or, for other movements, to I-670 east and then back toward I-71. Traffic from the West Mound Street ramp closure will be routed along South Central Avenue (U.S. 62) to West Broad Street to reach I-70 east. Drivers should watch for overhead signs and temporary lane shifts along these routes while the work is underway.
Part Of The Long-Running Downtown Ramp Up
These nighttime closures are one more phase in the long-term Downtown Ramp Up effort to reshape the I-70 and I-71 corridors, cut down on dangerous weaving, and reconnect nearby neighborhoods, a combined effort with about $1.4 billion in funding, per the City of Columbus. The project has already opened several new ramps and is being staged so crews can handle the heaviest work during overnight windows while trying to keep daytime traffic moving as smoothly as possible. City and ODOT officials say this kind of staggered closure schedule lets workers tackle complex tasks more safely and wrap them up faster.
How To Plan Your Drive
Give yourself extra time for evening trips, follow the detour signs, and think about using I-270 or surface streets if you normally rely on the affected ramps. For real-time map updates and lane details, drivers can check ODOT’s OHGO traffic system and local coverage. The Columbus Dispatch highlighted the closures and the official detours. Businesses, delivery drivers, and event planners who move through downtown should verify access and routing before heading out over the next two weeks.
