The 56-year-old ramp was damaged in late 2016 when a flatbed truck carrying a large heating and cooling unit struck the underside of the bridge.
Concrete on the edge of the structure was removed for safety reasons.
The nearly $5 million project will improve the Smithville Road bridge over the highway, which includes the removal of a raised island to allow for a left turn lane, an overlay of the bridge deck and the installation of cross frames to unify the structures, said Mandi Dillon, a spokesperson for the Ohio Department of Transportation.
“The flyover ramp is not needed for the improved reconfiguration in that area,” Dillon said.
U.S. 35 will get an additional westbound lane and a new concrete median to handle ramp traffic.
The project is expected to be finished by the end of September 2020.
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This year, the construction focus will be adding the lane to U.S. 35, which is expected to be finished before winter.
In the spring of 2020, work will start on the Smithville Road bridge, which will require a short detour for traffic movement, Dillon said.
After that, the Smithville Road to westbound U.S. 35 ramp area will be reconstructed, which will close the current southbound ramp to the highway.
But access to southbound Smithville Road from the U.S. 35 ramp, heading west, will be returned, Dillon said
The following phase will finish construction along Smithville Road after another traffic switch, which will detour the eastbound highway ramp to northbound Smithville Road, as well as the westbound highway ramp to Smithville Road.
The newly constructed Smithville Road to westbound U.S. 35 ramp will be open during this work.
After the construction along the Smithville road corridor and ramps is finished, demolition will begin on the flyover ramp, Dillon said.
The project concludes with the painting of the Smithville Road bridge.
ORIGINAL STORY: Dayton ramp closes after truck hits bridge
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