Travelers in Cincinnati should prepare for temporary lane closures at the Lytle Tunnel on I‑71 as Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) conducts regularly scheduled maintenance. The work, weather permitting, will take place during overnight hours to minimize impact on daily commuters.

Northbound closures – Sept. 28‑29

From 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. on Monday, Sept. 28, and Tuesday, Sept. 29, all northbound lanes of I‑71 will be closed at the I‑71/75 split (Ohio Exit 1). The Second Street entrance ramp to I‑71 North in Cincinnati will also be shut. Motorists will be directed to use the Fifth Street entrance ramp to access northbound I‑71.

Access to the Lytle Tunnel from eastbound Fort Washington Way (I‑71/U.S. 50) will be prohibited during this period, although U.S. 50 East will remain open. Drivers traveling northbound will be detoured via I‑75 North to State Route 126 (Ronald Reagan Cross‑County Highway) and then back onto I‑71.

Southbound closures – Sept. 30‑Oct. 1

Southbound I‑71 will be closed at Exit 2 and through the tunnel from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 30, and Thursday, Oct. 1. The U.S. 42/Eden Park Drive and Eden Park/Dorchester Road entrance ramps will be closed, and the Third Street exit ramp/tunnel from I‑71 South will also be shut.

Southbound drivers will be routed via the Liberty Street entrance ramp to I‑471, then onto I‑275 West to rejoin I‑71/I‑75, or via the Ronald Reagan Cross‑County Highway and I‑75 South. Additional detour signage and arrow boards will be installed to guide motorists through the work zone.

What drivers should know

• All closures are scheduled for overnight hours (10 p.m. – 5 a.m.) to reduce daytime traffic disruption.
• Detour routes are clearly marked with temporary signage; drivers are encouraged to follow posted arrows.
• The maintenance is contingent upon weather conditions; ODOT will adjust the schedule if severe weather arises.
• U.S. 50 East will stay open throughout the northbound closure period.

Commuters are advised to allow extra travel time and to check local traffic reports for real‑time updates. ODOT officials emphasized that the maintenance is essential to keep the tunnel safe and functional for the thousands of daily users who rely on this critical corridor.

For a visual overview, WLWT’s News to Go video at the top of the original story provides a map of the detour routes and additional details about the project timeline.

Original reporting: WLWT Cincinnati — read the source article.