Milestone reached for evaluation of repairs

CINCINNATI — All six shoring towers have been installed under the southbound lanes of I-471 on the Daniel Carter Beard Bridge.

The towers will allow the Ohio Department of Transportation and the contractor to inspect and assess necessary repairs after a massive fire broke out under the bridge two weeks ago.

The inspections are expected to take place Friday, and ODOT said structural engineers will conduct a “thorough and close inspection of the entire structure to determine the extent of the damage and the amount of work and material needed to repairs.” “

While crews evaluate repairs, Cincinnati and KYTC are making changes to other traffic patterns to help support increased traffic flow on roads that detour from SB I-471.

ODOT said Cincinnati adjusted the timing of traffic lights at “key intersections” and Covington engineers also made some adjustments to the lights. ODOT did not provide details on exactly where these signal adjustments were made.

ODOT said that next week, Kentucky engineers will install new controllers in Covington’s traffic cabinets, which were actually scheduled for installation later this year but were sped up due to emergency repairs in course on I-471. These controllers “will provide real-time traffic data to help improve signal timing in the long term,” ODOT said.

You should always plan for longer travel times if you are trying to travel south on the Ohio River, especially during rush hour.

Here’s what you should avoid if you’re entering or leaving Cincinnati:

Closures in Ohio:

• I-71 Liberty Street, access to I-471
• 5th Street access to I-471
• US-50 East and West access to I-471 (US 50 remains open to direct traffic.)
• Pete Rose Way/Riverside Drive below approach

ODOT diverts southbound I-471 traffic in Ohio via I-71 and I-75 South.

Although Pete Rose Way/Riverside Drive is closed due to the approach, drivers traveling east on Pete Rose Way can use Eggleston Street. Westbound traffic from Riverside Drive will go toward US 50.