I-75 northbound ramps to First and Third streets are closed

DAYTON, Ohio (WDTN) - The northbound ramps to First and Third streets from Interstate 75 are closed.

After a nearly six hour delay, ODOT crews shut down the two ramps about 2:30 Monday afternoon.

The ramps are closed as part of the final phase of I-75 reconstruction. The First and Third Street exits on northbound 75 are being eliminated to allow three lanes of traffic in both directions, making traveling through downtown Dayton much safer.

With the ramps closed, motorists are urged to exit at Edwin C. Moses Boulevard, follow the boulevard along the Great Miami River north to Third Street and cross the river at the Third Street Bridge into downtown; or exit eastbound on U.S. 35 and take the Jefferson Street exit north to downtown.

According to Downtown Dayton Partnership about 24,000 people work downtown each day, while another approximately 15,000 people commute to Sinclair Community College.

ODOT plans to close the southbound exits to First and Third streets in late November or early December.

The $500 million modernization project that began in 2002 and is scheduled to be done in four years.