I-70 and I-71 overhaul reshapes downtown
Why it matters: The Downtown Ramp Up is a $1.4 billion mega-project to improve one of Columbus' most congested and crash-prone highway stretches.
It'll also make surrounding streets and crossings safer for walkers and bicyclists by better connecting downtown to the Brewery District and German Village.
The latest: One bridge is expected to open next month, carrying Front Street over I-70, Ohio Department of Transportation spokesperson Matthew McGuire told Axios last week.
A new southbound I-71 flyover is expected to open to traffic later this year.
Catch up quick: The widening and reconstruction of I-70 and I-71 started way back in 2010. It has been split into several phases as funding becomes available and to minimize traffic impacts.
Construction is expected to continue into the 2030s, and should simplify exits by requiring fewer lane changes.
The current focus is on the south I-70 innerbelt, involving new inbound and outbound ramps and reconstruction of several bridges to be more pedestrian-friendly.
The intrigue: When the Third Street bridge is finished, likely several years from now, it will be structurally capable of holding a "cap" of businesses — similar to the one in the Short North completed in 2004.
The Columbus Department of Development will seek a development partner in the coming years, spokesperson Christine Reedy tells Axios.
By the numbers: Crash data McGuire provided to Axios suggests improvements are already working in one completed area, a new ramp connecting I-70 East to I-71 North.
From 2017-19, there were 158 reported crashes between Front Street and the old ramp.
From 2022-24, after it opened, there were 59.
What's next: After Front Street reopens, work will then shift to demolishing and rebuilding the High Street crossing, McGuire says.
The bottom line: Buckle up for continued disruptions. Follow the progress on ODOT's website, which also recommends alternative routes to maneuver around road closures.
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