West Martin Luther King Drive Reconstruction Nearing Completion

CINCINNATI – Reconstruction of West Martin Luther King Drive between Interstate 75 and Clifton Avenue in Uptown is nearly complete. Crews finished paving this week and all lanes have been reopened.

“This project in conjunction with the new Martin Luther King interchange at Interstate 71 significantly improves primary east-west access to the University of Cincinnati, area hospitals and the Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden,” said Michael Moore, director, Department of Transportation & Engineering.

Martin Luther King Drive cuts through Greater Cincinnati’s second-biggest employment center after Downtown.

Crews began the $6 million project in March. It included widening and shifting West Martin Luther King Drive to the north, as well as intersection improvements at Dixmyth and Clifton avenues and a new storm-water line.

Other improvements included:

• A multi-use path
• Sidewalks
• Driveways, curbs and curb ramps
• Retaining wall on the north side of the road between Hopple and Dixmyth

The project in the CUF neighborhoods of Clifton Heights, University Heights and Fairview was paid for with a combination of federal, state and city funds.

Crews have a few punch-list items to do this winter and into next spring that may require occasional, brief lane closures. Finish work includes the installation of permanent signage and lane striping, traffic signal connections at Dixmyth and Clifton, and adding railing on the retaining wall.