I-75/Norwood Lateral ramp closes for 45 days

CINCINNATI - If you use the Norwood Lateral to hop on southbound I-75, you may want to think about finding another way to get to your destination.

The Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) closed the Norwood Lateral from Paddock Road to southbound I-75 at 2 a.m. Monday, April 30.

What's hurting some drivers the most is hearing the road will be closed for 45 days.

There are hundreds of drivers that travel everyday across westbound State Route 562, the Norwood Lateral, to southbound I-75.

"I use that highway all the time on a regular," said Crystal Pope of Spring Grove Village.

Pope said she had no idea ODOT was going to replace the bridge deck from the Norwood Lateral to southbound I-75.   

"That's going to mean that you're going to have to get up earlier. You're going to have to have things together before the morning. It's just going to be a very hectic change," Pope said.

ODOT says it placed signs and put messages on traffic billboards warning drivers of the closure.

There is already construction on I-75 about a mile south from the bridge project.

Some drivers say they're glad they don't have to deal with another construction headache at the ramp closure.

"I can see that being frustrating to a lot of people, but I don't have to deal with that. I just deal with the traffic everybody trying to get on right here at the Mitchell Avenue exit," said Michael Jones of Winton Hills.

ODOT says there will be detour signs for people who aren't sure how to navigate around the closure.

"That's going to be very inconvenient. I don't even know how to get around it. I'm going to have to figure that out," said Gina Fecher of Saint Bernard.

ODOT says one way to get around the construction zone is to take the Norwood Lateral to northbound I-75 to the Paddock Road exit. Drivers will then be directed from Paddock Road to southbound I-75.