Major bridge fire across the Ohio River on I-75 (Cincinnati) on Nov. 11th

[38Chevy454]

I live in Cincinnati area. The early morning of the wreck was heavy rain. Although no official word has come out for cause. Yes the current estimate is Dec 23 for reopening. The bridge is one of if not the most busy traffic vs designed capacity in the US. It has needed replacement for 40 years.

The alternative bridge just west of the Brent Spence is called the Clay Wade Bailey bridge. Because it feeds off city streets, I recommend just taking I-275 loop around. It's much easier and less hassle than even taking I-471 bridge. I-71 and I-75 north of downtown Cincinnati are not very straight and many short ramps and exits. Just avoid all that with I-275 loop. Either way west or east works, just depends on your route and destination.

[Carrbigdog]

Originally Posted by AlanTerry

Here is a link from a local station WCPO.

https://www.wcpo.com/news/local-news...nesday-morning

Did WKRP report on this - just wonderin' after the turkey mishap.

[NXR]

Originally Posted by Carrbigdog

Did WKRP report on this - just wonderin' after the turkey mishap.

I watch that episode every Thanksgiving!

I used to work as an AM radio station engineer in the 70's and that show brings back a lot of memories. I still have never found the recording for the ad for Weasel Whizz Beer, though. "Tastes just like it did when the weasel put it there."

Ray

[NLOVNIT]

The latest news is KYDOT expects to reopen the bridge in about 2wks (weather depending). Of course, it really needs to be expanded. Despite the 275 bypass, it gets a LOT of traffic & a rebuild is in its future.

Lori-

[Solo_RV_Guy]

Originally Posted by NXR

I watch that episode every Thanksgiving!

I used to work as an AM radio station engineer in the 70's and that show brings back a lot of memories. I still have never found the recording for the ad for Weasel Whizz Beer, though. "Tastes just like it did when the weasel put it there."

Ray

If you remember The Fire Sign Theater ('radio' play comedy) you might recall the beer brand parody "Bear Whiz Beer".

[TimmyB]

Originally Posted by NLOVNIT

The latest news is KYDOT expects to reopen the bridge in about 2wks (weather depending). Of course, it really needs to be expanded. Despite the 275 bypass, it gets a LOT of traffic & a rebuild is in its future.

Lori-

Well, we just came through there and thankfully it was a Sunday afternoon, so it was only moderately crazy. Heading northbound on 75, they closed the two left lanes about two miles before the 275 split. We are assuming they did this to force people into getting in the correct lane earlier rather than later. This worked, except there were two accidents just while we were approaching, one that they had just cleared and another that the authorities hadn't even arrived at yet. Then, both Google Maps and Garmin were telling us to take 471 back to 75. That might make sense but the traffic to get on to 471 was at least a mile long and pretty much dead stopped. We just stayed on 275 and never had to slow down once.

Overall, not a huge deal but annoying driving in stop and go for ten minutes because people can't slow down for a couple miles.

[NLOVNIT]

Thanks for the status report. Sounds like it's going to be a mess getting through there for quite a long time.

Lori-

[TimmyB]

Oh, and I forgot to mention this. Earlier, I had posted that when planning the trip (a few weeks ago) on my Garmin RV 780, it still wanted me to take the Spence Bridge. This morning, it still did, but we knew that we were going to take 275 around. Well, as we were driving (and, maybe an hour or two short of Cincy), the Garmin beeped and said there was a change in routing and we now needed to go onto 275!

The good news is, it worked as it should have; the bad news is, it waited until we had already started our trip before working. That is not good.

It also tried to route us back on to 471 to go downtown and reconnect with 75, rather than stay on 275. As I check Google Maps on my computer right now, that way is 9 miles shorter and six minutes faster. The problem is, EVERY SINGLE VEHICLE that is using some type of mapping software is being told to do so. The line to exit on to 471 was a mile long with two lanes completely stopped and there is only ONE lane that exits there. This would have easily been fifteen minutes of stop and go just to get ON to 471. By all means, STAY ON 275 if you can.

[gvjackson]

The Spence Bridge is expected to reopen later today (ahead of schedule) with nearby closed entrances and exits reopening gradually over the following few hours/days. Construction crews are now driving back and forth over the bridge making final adjustments.

[NLOVNIT]

Thanks for the update. Wow! That was fast work. Although, we did have unusually good weather for it being winter around here. Probably got a lot done then.

Lori-