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Cincinnati will permanently close the Gest Street ramp to Seventh Street on or after December 1, 2026, as part of the Brent Spence Bridge Corridor project. The closure will accommodate construction of a new companion bridge alongside the existing Brent Spence Bridge. The project is also bringing other permanent and long-term traffic changes to downtown Cincinnati. Motorists should monitor ODOT announcements for detours and updated construction schedules.
Cincinnati drivers will face another permanent road closure as construction advances on the Brent Spence Bridge Corridor project.
The Gest Street ramp to Seventh Street is scheduled to close permanently on or after December 1, 2026.
The closure will make room for construction of a new companion bridge alongside the existing Brent Spence Bridge. The project is expected to bring significant changes to downtown Cincinnati’s highway connections and surrounding road network.
Gest Street ramp closure planned for December
The Gest Street ramp connecting motorists to Seventh Street will permanently close beginning December 1 or later, according to the reported construction schedule.
The closure is part of the ongoing work to accommodate the new Brent Spence companion bridge. Drivers who regularly use the ramp will need to find alternative routes to reach Seventh Street.
The closure also comes as construction crews continue making changes to nearby roads and highway connections.
Officials have not yet provided independently verified details about the exact closure time or an alternative route for affected motorists.
Also read: ODOT installs autonomous drones to monitor Brent Spence Bridge construction in Cincinnati
Brent Spence Bridge project brings major traffic changes
The Brent Spence Bridge Corridor project aims to improve transportation connections between Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky.
A major component involves constructing a new companion bridge alongside the existing Brent Spence Bridge. The project also includes improvements to Interstate 75, highway ramps and surrounding infrastructure.
Construction requires several existing ramps and road connections to close permanently or temporarily.
Gest Street has also been subject to extended construction-related closures between Freeman Avenue and the West Seventh Street and West Eighth Street overpasses. That work is expected to continue through approximately June 2030.
More permanent closures affect downtown Cincinnati drivers
The Gest Street ramp closure follows other permanent traffic changes associated with the Brent Spence Bridge project.
Previous closures have affected connections involving the Sixth Street Viaduct, Second Street and Gest Street.
These changes require motorists to adjust familiar routes while construction continues.
Drivers should monitor announcements from the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) and the Brent Spence Bridge Corridor project team for updated traffic information, detours and additional construction schedules.
The new companion bridge is expected to open in 2031, with additional approach construction continuing through 2033.
FAQs
When will the new Brent Spence companion bridge open?
The new companion bridge is expected to open in 2031. Additional construction work on the surrounding highway approaches is expected to continue through 2033.
How long will Gest Street construction last?
The broader Gest Street construction-related closure is expected to continue through approximately June 2030. This is separate from the reported permanent closure of the ramp to Seventh Street.
Will the Gest Street ramp reopen?
No. The reported closure is permanent, meaning motorists should prepare to use alternative routes.
