I-71 - Western Row Road Interchange

Study Description
The current interchange has dual southbound on-ramps and

dual northbound off-ramps. The interchange is located at the terminus of an originally proposed regional highway and later built as a partial interchange to serve Kings Island Amusement Park opened in 1972. At that time there were no other major traffic generators in the area. Due to changing economic development requirements and increasing congestion on local roads in the area, a complete interchange design to service movements to and from the north is required. A Conceptual Alternatives Study that considered problems and needs for interchanges on I-71 at Western Row Road and SR 741 is complete.

Improvements to address projected traffic showed that a full interchange is needed at Western Row Road and improvements at the State Route 741 and interstate highway improvements will be needed by 2030.

However, improvements at the Western Row Road interchange are to be explored in detail right away. The next step in the ODOT project development process, the PDP, is the Analysis of Feasible Alternatives and is underway.

Three alternatives plus the No-Build alternative for the Western Row Road Interchange have been advanced for further analysis. These alternatives are shown below. The proposed alternatives all show essentially the addition of a southbound exit ramp and a northbound entrance ramp to make the Interchange fully accessible.

Study Documents
WAR-71-3.62 - Conceptual Alternative Study

PDF (827.83 KB)
WAR-71-3.62 Project Development Process

PDF (1.48 MB)

Study Alternatives
Through the various studies involved in the development of this project, three “build” alternatives have been revealed and are currently being explored.

Alternative 2 - View Exhibit

PDF (3.13 MB)
A northbound entrance loop ramp will be added from Western Row Road at the Kings Island Drive intersection. Columbia Road will be relocated to intersect with Western Row Road west of the Kings Island Drive and east of I-71. The relocated Columbia Road will pass under the existing I-71 northbound exit ramp and the existing I-71 southbound entrance ramp. A connector road to the old Columbia Road alignment will be provided from the realigned Columbia Road. Southbound exit and entrance ramps to I-71 from Western Row Road will be added west of the I-71 overpass. The new southbound entrance ramp will run beneath the existing southbound entrance ramp through an existing bridge bay.

Alternative 4 - View Exhibit

PDF (3.16 MB)
The existing southbound entrance ramp and northbound exit ramp will be relocated to the west and add a northbound entrance ramp from Kings Island drive to I-71 at the Brant Connector intersection. Kings Island Drive will also be relocated to the west to intersect Western Row Road at the same location as the realigned ramps. Southbound exit and entrance ramps will be added west of I-71; the new entrance ramp will run beneath the existing southbound entrance ramp through an existing bridge bay.

Alternative 5 - View Exhibit

PDF (595.27 KB)
A northbound entrance ramp will be added from Kings Island drive to I-71 at the Brant Connector intersection. Kings Island Drive will also be relocated to the west to intersect Western Row Road at the same location as the realigned ramps. A southbound exit ramp will be added west of I-71; the new exit ramp will run above the existing Western Row Road.