Riverside Drive To Reopen between Kemper Lane and Hazen Street

Jul 26, 2019

Editor's Note: Updated Friday, July 26, 2019

CINCINNATI - Riverside Drive is scheduled to reopen between Kemper Lane and Hazen Street by 9:00 a.m. Saturday, July 27. 

The closure since mid July is part of a street rehabilitation project that includes significant storm-sewer improvements in an area with long-term flooding and drainage issues just east of downtown.

The storm-sewer project is located at a railroad overpass and along a blind S curve where water pools in the warms months and ices in the winter. The improvements are designed to make it safer for motorists, reduce maintenance costs and eliminate an environmental hazard by separating storm water and sewer pipes.

During the closure, eastbound motorists have been detoured via Eggleston Avenue to Columbia Parkway to Stanley Avenue. Westbound motorists have been detoured via Stanley Avenue to Columbia Parkway to Fort Washington Way.

Detour signs are posted on site to help direct motorists. Those signs will be removed once the closure is lifted. 

Local traffic continues to be allowed access during the closure. Commercial truck traffic is being detoured via the parkway.

PLEASE NOTE: To help maintain safety and traffic flow, the City has:

  • Changed the timing of the traffic signal at Collins Avenue and Riverside Drive to allow more time for motorists on Collins to turn left onto Riverside 
  • Changed the timing of the traffic signal at St. Andrews Street to provide safe access for pedestrians and maintain efficient access for motorists 
  • Opened Bains Street to allow westbound traffic onto Riverside Drive and local eastbound traffic onto Riverside Drive

The bike lane along Riverside Drive remains open. Bicyclists are encouraged to use caution while passing through the work zone.

Please see the attached map, which provides detour information and shows the location of the closure.

The City’s Department of Transportation & Engineering is using state grant funds to cover about a third of the $4.7 million cost to rehab and resurface Riverside Drive. The City would have lost those funds for the project if it was delayed or canceled. The project started in early May and is slated to be complete by Nov. 1, 2019.

The Riverside project, which stretches eastward four miles from near Eggleston Avenue downtown to Stanley Avenue in Columbia Tusculum, coincides with a nearby street rehabilitation project on Columbia Parkway. The Columbia Parkway rehab project starts at Delta Avenue and extends two miles farther east to Beechmont Avenue. It started earlier this spring and is scheduled to be complete by Nov. 1, 2019.

Both rehab projects and associated lane closures are being coordinated by DOTE to reduce the impact to the public. DOTE also is coordinating rehab-related lane closures with ongoing hillside stabilization projects along Columbia Parkway from Bains Street to Torrence Parkway.

Motorists may experience slow traffic and congestion at times, depending on the date and their location on the parkway or Riverside Drive.

The City is posting regular updates via social media and on the following web pages:

To reduce wait times due to possible congestion, motorists are encouraged to check these resources before beginning their commute.

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