Closures could mean traffic troubles

DAYTON, Ohio (WDTN) - Professors at Sinclair Community College have likely heard a lot of excuses for why students were late to class, but some may have a legitimate one on Monday.

"We're keeping our fingers crossed but usually those first couple days the message doesn't get out and then you have to be patient," says Randy Chevalley with ODOT District 7. "There probably will be a lot of backups."

Sinclair's 24,000 students will be some of the people most impacted by the closure of the Third and First street ramps from Northbound I-75, but they'll be far from the only ones.

Although those with ODOT are trying to get the word out about possible detours.

"We're hoping with all the outreach some have already found that alternate route before the last minute," Chevalley says.

Those at Sinclair have also encouraged their students to study up on the changes that are part of eventually creating a single exit for downtown.

The school has a web page explaining how to get around the construction.

It even has some speeded-up videos showing its recommended route, which is taking U.S. 35 to Jefferson Street and then Fourth Street.

Other possibilities for drivers are the Edwin C. Moses or Main Street exits.

"This is not an ideal situation but we've done our best to let people know about it in advance and be able to plan for their route and be able to plan for their morning," says Sinclair spokesperson Adam Murka.

So about that excuse. Well maybe it won't fly after all.

"We hope not," Murka says. "We're certainly working hard to try to prevent that."

According to ODOT, the ramps will be closed until Dec. 2016 when a single ramp for downtown will open.