I-75 lane closures begin tonight for large Butler County interchange project

Drivers beware: There will be a partial lane closure at the Union Centre Boulevard interchange at Interstate 75 beginning tonight.

The Butler County Engineer’s Office said there will be nightly lane closures from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. near the Union Centre Boulevard interchange on I-75 starting tonight and lasting through Saturday.

“In an effort to continue moving the project forward with impending rain this week, portable concrete barriers will be set at night and will require right lane closures in both directions on I-75 until June 22,” a release from Butler County Engineer Greg Wilkens’ office said.

RELATED: $20M West Chester I-75 interchange project begins this week, traffic to be maintained

The closure is in conjunction with the $20 million interchange conversion to a unique “diverging diamond” model. The township is paying for the project entirely with TIF funds, not general fund taxpayer dollars.

Work began a couple of weeks ago, and Wilkens said he expects construction will last for two seasons and that the contractor will attempt to minimize traffic delays at the interchange. Traffic will be maintained with some lane closures and a four- to five-day road/bridge closure over a weekend.

The new interchange design allows “free flowing turns when entering and exiting an interstate,” according a transportation video.

Separated by concrete barriers, “both sides drive on the opposite side of the road before crossing back and resuming their original pattern,” the video states.

“It looks confusing maybe on the surface, but when you are in it, you just go with the flow and you won’t even recognize what’s really taking place,” Butler County Engineer Greg Wilkens previously told the Journal-News.

Motorists are encouraged to check the BCEO website, as well as Facebook and Twitter @bceonews for possible date and status changes concerning this advisory – www.bceo.org/roadclosings .

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