COLUMBUS, Ohio – The reopening of lanes and ramps on the South Outer Belt scheduled for Sunday was delayed by weather until Wednesday, when Ohio Department of Transportation officials say all eight lanes of I-270 between I-71 and US Route 23 will be open.
By 5:30 a.m. Wednesday, I-270 will be four lanes in each direction and all ramps will re-open, including the ramp from US 23 south to I-270 east, which has been closed for a year.
That means four lanes on I-270 in each direction for travelers just in time for Thanksgiving. All four lanes for westbound travel are already open.
Traffic coming from US 23 will have its own designated lane as drivers access I-270, eliminating weaving and merging with mainline I-270 thru traffic.
The $26 million project to widen I-270 from two to four lanes started in the spring of 2013 and ODOT officials say crews will be back in the spring of 2015 to put the final layer of asphalt down on the lanes and complete the project.
In order to open the eastbound lanes, traffic will be impacted on Tuesday, starting at 6:30 p.m. when I-270 East will be reduced to one lane between US 23 and I-71.
The following ramps will also close:
I-71 north and south to I-270 east. Detour: I-71 north or south to I-270 west to US 62 to I-270 east
US 23 north and south to I-270 east. Detour: US 23 north or south to I-270 west to US 62 to I-270 east
I-270 east to US 23 north and south. Detour: I-270 east to Alum Creek Drive to I-270 west to US 23 north or south