CINCINNATI, OH — On an average weekday, the Daniel Carter Beard Bridge (I-471) carries about 64,000 southbound vehicles, with nearly a third of that volume traveling between 3-6 p.m. The recent fire and resulting closure of the southbound lanes on the bridge requires all of these vehicles to be redistributed along alternate routes.

The City of Cincinnati has been coordinating with the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT), and the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC) to account for these extra vehicles on local streets while the bridge is being repaired.

Below is a summary of the actions these agencies have taken to date to improve traffic flow in the area.

City of Cincinnati: Signal timing adjustments have been made at the Taylor Southgate bridge, 2^nd Street, Hopple Street/I-75 ramp, Liberty/Reading, Columbia Parkway, and Bains/Riverside.  

Modifications to the Broadway/Pete Rose/2nd Street intersection were completed last week to allow a dual left from 2nd Street to Pete Rose Way.

The northbound lane on Broadway at Mehring was closed late last week to allow improved traffic flow on 2nd Street.

In addition, the Cincinnati Police Department will deploy resources when an overabundance of traffic is expected in the downtown areas specifically related to the scheduling of special events. Special attention has been given to days with high-profile events, such as Bengals games and concerts at Heritage Arena, where large crowds and heavy traffic require a police presence and additional traffic control measures.   

KYTC: Active construction on the Clay Wade Bailey Bridge has been postponed to enable better traffic flow for vehicles on 3rd Street and Central Avenue traveling toward that bridge. Minimal delay has been observed on the approaches to the bridge since that action. 

Additionally, several signal timing adjustments have been made in both Covington and Newport to help the flow of traffic.

• Covington: 3^rd & Scott, 4^th & Scott, 5^th & Scott, 5^th & Greenup, 5^th & Garrard, 4^th & Garrard
• Newport: 3^rd & Monmouth, 3^rd & Saratoga, 3^rd & Washington, Dave Cowens & Washington, Dave Cowens & Park

ODOT: Crews have repaired the wall along northbound I-471, and all northbound lanes have been reopened as of December 20th. Concrete bridge pier repairs have been completed, and the first pieces of steel needed for custom-building the new bridge girders have arrived at the fabricator. Construction is on schedule to be complete in March.

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