Columbus High street Bridge Construction Causes Major Traffic Delays
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Columbus,OH – A major construction project to replace the High Street bridge in downtown Columbus is causing notable traffic backups,particularly during afternoon commutes. Motorists are facing delays as crews work to repair and ultimately rebuild the structure, a process expected to last roughly two years.
Brewery District gridlock
The situation has become particularly acute in the Brewery District, where traffic is routinely backed up as far as Sycamore Street. “It’s horrible,” one Columbus motorist, 22-year-old Macain Eldridge, described the congestion. The closure of one northbound lane on the bridge as early September is the primary cause, forcing a constriction in traffic flow.
The impact extends beyond mere inconvenience. Employees at a local restaurant, Arepazo, report witnessing risky driving behaviors as frustrated drivers attempt to navigate the congested area. A manager at the establishment noted that she observed three vehicles traveling the wrong way on a nearby one-way street in a single day, nearly resulting in two accidents.
City Adjusting Traffic Signals in Real-Time
The city of Columbus is actively responding to the escalating congestion. According to James Young, the Deputy Director of the city’s Department of Public Service, officials are considering adjustments to traffic signal timings around the bridge. Specifically, the city’s traffic management center is evaluating changes to signals on Third Street, Fourth Street, and Livingston Avenue to optimize traffic flow.
These adjustments may already be underway, as the center utilizes cameras to monitor road conditions and make real-time modifications. “Drivers just might not notice it,” Young explained, emphasizing the behind-the-scenes work to mitigate the disruption. “This is why we have all these systems to make it so people can do what they’re supposed to and not think about all the infrastructure around them.”
Project Timing and the Downtown Ramp-Up
The timing of the High Street bridge project has drawn scrutiny, as it began before the planned reopening of the nearby Front Street bridge and Fulton Street ramp, scheduled for November. An ODOT spokesperson acknowledged the inconvenience, stating that the High street project needed to remain on track despite the delays with the other infrastructure improvements.
Both the high Street and Front Street bridge replacements are integral components of ODOT’s enterprising $1.4 billion “Downtown Ramp-Up” project, a decade-long initiative to overhaul Columbus’s highway system. The current phases of the project – Phase 4A for High Street and Phase 4R/6R for Front Street – are estimated to cost $343 million and $280 million, respectively.
For commuters currently impacted by the construction, city officials recommend seeking choice routes. While acknowledging the immediate frustration, Young expressed confidence that drivers will adapt.”When this first happens, people get upset with construction, and you know it
