COLUMBUS – Ohio Department of Transportation officials say the busy ramp from the Outer Belt to U.S. Route 33 on the Northwest Side may reopen several days earlier than expected.
The ramp from southbound I-270 to U.S. Route 33 to Marysville (see map) closed Wednesday night and was expected to remain closed until next week, but may reopen as early as Friday morning, if the weather cooperates, according to ODOT spokeswoman Nancy Burton.
Burton says ODOT engineers determined the slope that supports the ramp has the potential to become unstable with any more rainfall, so the contractor on the $70 million interchange project planned to physically move or re-align the ramp by adding pavement.
She says crews would work around the clock to ensure the ramp is back open by Friday morning, but they are also watching the weather since rain could delay the opening.
The ramp being closed handles an average of 2,000 cars per hour during the morning and evening rush hours, according to The Columbus Dispatch.
Motorists have two detour options:
Exit at Sawmill Rd., travel south to Rt. 161 and west to US 33 west
Stay on I-270 south, exit at Tuttle Crossing Blvd. and take I-270 north to US 33 west