Editor's Note: Updated Friday, Nov. 8, 2019

CINCINNATI – Columbia Parkway will be reduced to one through lane heading into downtown between Delta Avenue and Torrence Parkway beginning Monday, Nov. 11. The westbound lane closures will be in place for an estimated two to three months to accommodate crews stabilizating the uphill side of the parkway in this stretch closest to Torrence.  

This marks the first phase of a $17 million major remediation project along Columbia Parkway extending a total of two miles from Bains Street in Mt. Adams to just east of Torrence in East Walnut Hills. The overall project covers 12 landslide locations. As a design-build project, the stabilization method for each slide location will be determined as the project progresses. Construction is expected to continue until summer 2021.

The initial phase will focus on the three most significant landslide locations, beginning with what's known as Area 10 about 400 feet east of Torrence, and Areas Seven and Eight between Kemper Lane and William Howard Taft Road at Torrence. 

See this link for a map of the landslide locations.

Crews for the city's contractor, Beaver Excavating Co., are starting work on Area 10.

Beaver is expected to begin work on Areas Seven and Eight before Area 10 is completed in late winter 2020. The schedule for Areas Seven and Eight will be posted, once available. 

The city’s Department of Transportation & Engineering began developing a long-term stabilization plan earlier this year following a series of significant landslides in multiple locations along the uphill side of the parkway.

The department selected Canton-based Beaver Excavating this spring as the primary contractor for the design-build project. Beaver and its design consultant, Geotechnology Inc., will proceed in phases with design and construction overlapping to save time and reduce costs. Each phase will include exploratory digging and sampling, design development and actual construction.

Geotechnology obtained soil samples at pre-determined locations on the upper parts of the hillside in late summer. The mobilization effort required Beaver to build ramps and access points over the existing retaining wall and on the hillside between Kemper and just east of Torrence. The ramps will remain  in place during construction.

Traffic Impact
Starting Monday, Nov. 11, the parkway is reduced to one lane inbound between Delta Avenue and Torrence Parkway. Construction on Area 10 is expected to last untl mid to late winter 2020.

All eastbound lanes heading out of downtown on the parkway are open between William Howard Taft Road and Bains Street. They are expected to remain open while the stabilization project is underway. 

See this link for a map of lane closures.

Traffic delays heading into downtown are expected to be significant, especially during morning rush hour on weekdays.

Law enforcement officers will be stationed on site while the lane closures are set up to help direct traffic. Arrow boars also will be posted on site to help guide motorists.

Please note: Two of the three westbound lanes along the parkway from Torrence into downtown will remain open to through traffic during this phase of the project.

Motorists are encouraged to use alternate routes, including Riverside Drive. This year’s extensive rehabilitation project along four miles of Riverside Drive is substantially complete with permanent line striping as the remaining step. Crews finished paving in mid October. 

Read about the Riverside Drive project, which extends from Adams Place near downtown to Stanley Avenue in Columbia Tusculum at: https://cincinnati-oh.gov/dote/dote-projects/riverside-drive-street-rehabilitation/

Background
At a news conference in late March, Mayor John Cranley, City Manager Patrick Duhaney and Department of Transportation & Engineering (DOTE) officials highlighted plans to address hillside stability along the parkway between Bains and Torrence.  

Landslides have continued to occur in multiple locations along this stretch of the parkway since January.  

Read DOTE's full landslide report published in March 2019.

Other Projects on Columbia Parkway
In addition, an unrelated project to repair stormwater inlets is also starting on Monday, Nov. 11, between Beechmont and Tusculum avenues. 

The westbound curb lane of the parkway will be reduced to one through lane daily 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. for an estimated six to eight weeks. The single-lane closure is needed for crews reconstructing stormwater inlets to eliminate long-term flooding in this sharp elbow curve stretch of the parkway.

 Crews will stage equipment in the curb lane to access the work site located on Cincinnati Parks property above a retaining wall.

For more information, visit: https://www.cincinnati-oh.gov/dote/news/single-wb-lane-closure-on-columbia-parkway-for-stormwater-repair/.