Columbus Crossroads Project Overview and Updates

Project Overview

Please click the image below for a document that gives an overview of what is open and what is closed:

The Columbus Crossroads Project is the biggest active project in Central ohio. The first phase is the reconstruction of the I-71/670 interchange which is expected to be completed in 2014.

The project will improve safety, reduce congestion and connect neighborhoods. It will add a new travel lane on I-670 and reduce weaving across traffic lanes to exits. Twenty-two new bridges will be built.

January 26 UPDATE:

The exit ramp from Eastbound I-670 to Cleveland Avenue along with a block of Cleveland Avenue will close nightly from 8 p.m. through 5 a.m. the next morning beginning this Sunday night, January 29 through Thursday, February 2. The closures are necessary to allow crews to complete bridge demolition work.

Cleveland Avenue will close to traffic during these hours between McCoy Street and Jack Gibbs Boulevard, but remain open to COTA buses and pedestrians.

DETOUR INFORMATION FOR CLEVELAND AVENUE: North of the bridge, the detour is Jack Gibbs Blvd. to St. Clair Ave. to Spring St., back to Cleveland Ave. South of the bridge, take Long Street to Jack Gibbs Blvd., back to Cleveland Ave.

DETOUR INFORMATION FOR THE RAMP FROM EASTBOUND I-670 TO CLEVELAND AVENUE: Exit prior to the ramp, at N. Third St. (Summit St.), continue to E. Chestnut St. east, to Fourth St. north, then go east via E. Second or E. Fifth back to Cleveland Ave.

DETOUR INFORMATION FOR THE RAMP FROM I-670 EAST TO CLEVELAND AVENUE:
Exit prior to the ramp at 3rd to Chestnut St. to 4th St. to Cleveland Ave.

WEDNESDAY 2/1 &THURSDAY 2/2 FROM 10 P.M. TO 5 A.M.
I-71 south will close at I-670 for bridge demolition. I-71 south traffic will be detoured to I-670 west to SR 315 to I-71 south.

The ramp from I-670 west to I-71 south will close. The detour is SR 315 south to I-71 south.

MONDAY 2/6 & TUESDAY 2/7 FROM 10 P.M. TO 5 A.M.
I-71 north will close at I-670 for bridge demolition. I-71 north traffic will be detoured to I-670 east to Leonard Ave. to I-670 west to I-71 north.

Ongoing Restrictions and Ramp Closures

• A crossover is in place on I-670 between High Street and just east of Cleveland Avenue. Here, two lanes of I-670 east cross over and travel on the westbound side of I-670. Two lanes of I-670 will be maintained in each direction. Separated by concrete barrier wall, eastbound and westbound I-670 traffic will travel on the same side of the roadway for a little less than a mile.
• The ramp from Neil Avenue to access eastbound I-670 and northbound I-71 has been reconfigured. Motorist can still get access eastbound I-670 from Neil Avenue, but they will be routed to enter I-670 at the Convention Center Drive entrance ramp. This route crosses a temporary traffic signal at E. Goodale St.
• The ramp from 5th Avenue to I-71 south is closed until November 2012. Detour: Leonard Avenue
• The ramp from I-670 east to Broad Street is closed permanently. Detour: Fourth Street to Goodale Avenue to High to Chestnut to 3rd to Broad. Alternate detour: I-670 east to Cleveland Avenue.
• The ramp from 71 south to Spring Street is closed until November 2013. Detour: Broad Street.
• The ramp from Long Street to northbound I-71 is closed until November 2013. The posted detour for Long Street westbound: 17th Street south to Broad, west to 4th Street, north to I-670 east. Travelling east on Long, the detour is Long to 4th Street, north to I-670 east.
• The ramp from Broad Street to northbound I-71 and westbound I-670 is closed until 2013. Detour: Broad Street west to 4th, north to I-670 east to I-71 north.
• The ramp from northbound I-71 to westbound I-670 is closed until November 2012. Detour: I-70 west to SR 315 north.
• The ramp from Jack Gibbs Boulevard to westbound I-670 is closed until November 2012. Detour: Cleveland Avenue south to Mount Vernon Avenue, west to 4th Street, north to I-670 west. Another detour is Cleveland Avenue north to to 5th Avenue to I-670 west.
• The ramp from I-670 west to Third and High is closed until fall 2012. The ramp to use is Spring Street. Drivers will notice you can only access the Spring Street ramp from I-670 west, not I-71 south. Drivers on I-71 south will have to use the Broad Street exit ramp or another route.

There are now two lanes on the left for 71 south. One of those lanes used to be the exit only lane for Spring Street, but it is now designated for through traffic.

If you want to access I-670, there are two lanes on the right, but that is not obvious until after 11th Avenue.

These traffic pattern changes are necessary to allow crews to get started on building new ramps, bridges and a mircotunnel that will improve drainage throughout the corridor. This new traffic pattern on I-71 south will be in effect until October 2012 at the earliest.

During construction, two lanes will be maintained in each direction on I-71 and I-670. Motorists are encouraged to allow extra time for their commute to ensure safe travel through the work zone and seek alternate routes. The $200 million project, which is expected to be completed in three years, will improve safety and reduce congestion by building new bridges and adding lanes to reduce weaving and merging.

One lane from I-70 east to I-71 north between Grant Avenue and Town Street is closed. This lane restriction will be in effect until approximately November of 2012. The lane restriction allows crews to begin construction on a new drainage system.

Click below to view an animation of the crossover configuration.

Getting to Businesses on Parsons Avenue or Nationwide Children's Hospital

From I-71 south, take the Main Street exit and go east on Main to Parsons Avenue.
From I-71 north, take the Broad Street exit and go right, or east, to Parsons Avenue.
Access the I-71 north ramp directly from Parsons Avenue between Mooberry and Main Street.
Access I-71 south from Parsons Avenue by going west on Main Street and turning south onto the entrance ramp