Uptown Transportation Study - OKI

Planning Study ReportPart B: Interstate 71 Access Improvement Study, PID 776284.6.2. ODOT Plans and Projects4.6.2.1. HAM 75 2.30 Mill Creek ExpresswayThis preliminary engineering project is evaluating capacity enhancements to the I-75mainline from the Western Hills Viaduct to Paddock Road at the western border of theUptown area. The project also includes the development of recommended alternatives forthe reconstruction of the I-75 Interchanges serving Uptown located at Hopple Street,I-74/Central Parkway, and Mitchell Avenue.Two significant issues regarding I-75 access remain to be resolved as of June 2006.The intersection of Hopple/ML King Drive/Central Parkway is planned to be grade separatedas part of this project.Local access to Central Parkway (US-27/127) from I-74 may not be maintained in the future,thus redirecting this traffic flow north to Mitchell Avenue or south to Hopple Street.The project is currently in Step 6 of the ODOT Major Project Development Process. Thecurrent phase of the project is scheduled for completion in late 2006 when preferredalternatives are advanced for the mainline and interchanges.4.6.2.2. HAM 71/75 0.000.22 Brent Spence BridgeThis project is evaluating capacity and safety enhancements to I-71/75 from the WesternHills Viaduct (Harrison Avenue) south to Kyles Lane in Kenton County, Kentucky. Thisincludes the potential replacement or rehabilitation of the Brent Spence Bridge carryingI-71/75 over the Ohio River.Alternatives for modification of the I-75 interchange serving Harrison Avenue would providenew direct access from I-75 to Central Parkway and McMillan Street. If such access isprovided in the future, it may alter the current distribution of traffic flow in the Uptown Studyarea south of ML King Drive. The project is currently in Step 4 of the ODOT Major ProjectDevelopment Process; it is anticipated that a preferred alternative for the interchange will bedetermined in late 2007.4.6.2.3. Miscellaneous Maintenance ProjectsBesides the two major preliminary engineering studies for I-75 in the Uptown area, there area number of smaller maintenance projects included in the ODOT District 8 work planincluding the re-paving of US 42 (Reading Road) and US-22 (Gilbert Avenue) within the Cityof Cincinnati.Additionally the superstructure of Bridge HAM 71-0243 which carries I-71 over Eden ParkDrive and Florence Avenue will be painted at an estimated cost of $1.5 Million.Uptown Transportation Study 24URS CorporationNovember 2006