Is I-71 closed right now?
Our state DOT feeds show no closures on I-71 as of . This answer does not cover Kentucky (work zones only, no closures). A closure the feeds have not reported will not show here.
I-71 road conditions today
I-71 in Kentucky
Our feed shows 3 work zones on I-71 in Kentucky. We get work zones only for Kentucky, not crashes or closures.
Kentucky road conditions →I-71 in Ohio
Our feeds show 0 closures, 0 crashes and 5 work zones on I-71 in Ohio.
Ohio road conditions →11Incidents
3Alerts in its states
2States
5Hazards
01
Route overview
Interstate 71 runs 345 miles from Louisville, Kentucky to Cleveland, Ohio, and is the primary northeast diagonal across Kentucky and Ohio. It connects three of the four major Ohio metro areas (Cincinnati, Columbus, Cleveland) along with Louisville and the Kentucky Bluegrass region. I-71 ranks high for truck volume per mile in Ohio's metros: by average combination truck AADTT per mile it is second only to I-70 in Columbus and leads Cincinnati's roadways (with I-74 and I-75) on the same measure (Mid-America Freight Coalition, Ohio DOT data). Truck density is heaviest through the Cincinnati and Columbus metros, not the Cleveland end, where I-80 and I-480 carry the most combination truck miles.
For freight, I-71 carries heavy intra-Ohio freight, linking the Cincinnati and Louisville freight hubs to the Columbus distribution centers and Cleveland-area plants. Auto manufacturing in the region adds freight to the corridor: Honda's Marysville auto plant sits northwest of Columbus (served mainly by US-33), and Ford's Cleveland Engine plant in Brook Park is near the Cleveland end.
Geographically I-71 is mostly rolling, with no major climbs. The route crosses the Ohio River at Louisville on the Kennedy / Lincoln bridges (jointly with I-65) and again uses the Brent Spence Bridge corridor at Cincinnati. Weather hazards are dominated by lake-effect snow at the Cleveland terminus, occasional ice events in central Ohio, and severe weather across Kentucky in spring.
- Crosses two states: KY, OH
- Connects Louisville, Cincinnati, Columbus, and Cleveland
- Concurrent with I-65 across the Ohio River at Louisville (RiverLink tolled)
- Concurrent with I-75 across the Brent Spence Bridge at Cincinnati
- Second-highest combination truck volume per mile in Columbus (behind I-70); top tier in Cincinnati (Ohio DOT data)
- Crosses the Ohio River twice (at Louisville and again with I-75 at Cincinnati)
- Cleveland terminus connects to I-90 at the lakefront
02
Key cities & junctions
| State | Mile | City / Junction |
|---|---|---|
| KY | MM 0 | Louisville (I-64/I-65 jct) |
| KY | MM 22 | La Grange |
| KY | MM 53 | Carrollton |
| KY | MM 110 | Walton |
| KY | MM 137 | Florence (I-275 jct) |
| OH | MM 1 | Cincinnati (I-75 jct via Brent Spence) |
| OH | MM 36 | Lebanon, OH |
| OH | MM 92 | Columbus (I-70/I-270 jct) |
| OH | MM 127 | Sunbury |
| OH | MM 158 | Mansfield (US-30 jct) |
| OH | MM 218 | Medina |
| OH | MM 232 | Cleveland (I-90/I-490 jct) |
04
Notable hazards & trouble spots
Tolled crossing with RiverLink
Louisville Ohio River bridges (MM 0)
I-71 begins at the I-65 Kennedy and Lincoln bridges, which carry RiverLink tolls. There is no cash option. Accounts must be set up in advance via E-ZPass or RiverLink. Heavy trucks pay significantly more than passenger vehicles.
Functionally obsolete crossing with replacement project
Brent Spence Bridge, Cincinnati (MM 1 OH)
I-71 / I-75 cross the Ohio River into Cincinnati on the Brent Spence Bridge. A federally-funded replacement project is underway. Lane closures during construction will continue for years.
Heavy urban congestion at the central Ohio interchange
Columbus I-70 / I-71 split (MM 92)
Where I-71 meets I-70 in central Columbus is one of the busiest interchanges in Ohio. ODOT publishes real-time conditions. The I-270 outerbelt is often a faster through-truck route during peak periods.
Sudden squalls off Lake Erie
Cleveland lake-effect snow (MM 218-232)
I-71 approaching Cleveland is exposed to lake-effect snow squalls that can drop visibility to zero in minutes. ODOT publishes real-time alerts; multi-vehicle pile-ups are routine in winter.
Spring tornado and storm corridor
Northern Kentucky severe weather (MM 0-137)
I-71 across northern Kentucky runs through a corridor exposed to severe spring weather. Tornadoes and damaging hail are routine April through June. Park under solid shelter when warnings are active.
05
Active incidents (11)
I-71 northbound ramp to Second Street
I-71 northbound ramp to Second Street
The I-71 northbound ramp to U.S. 36/SR 37
The I-71 northbound ramp to U.S. 36/SR 37
I-71 NB to I-480 westbound.
I-71 NB to I-480
I-71 NB to I-480 westbound.
I-71 NB to I-480
I-480 under I-71 eastbound.
I-480 under I-71
I-71 NB to I-480 WB westbound.
I-71 NB to I-480 WB
I-270 eastbound at I-71
I-270 eastbound at I-71
Work Zone on I-71/75
I-71/75
Work Zone on I-71
I-71
Work Zone on I-71/75
I-71/75
Work Zone on I-71
I-71
06
Weather alerts in its states (3)
National Weather Service alerts in force in the states Interstate 71 runs through. Each one covers a county or a forecast zone, which may be far from the Interstate.
- 3 alerts in Kentucky: Special Weather Statement
07
FAQ
How long does it take to drive I-71 end to end?
A passenger car can cover the 345 miles in about 5-6 hours of driving time. Commercial drivers respecting hours-of-service rules typically complete the route in a single day, with delays common at the Louisville and Cincinnati Ohio River bridges and through Columbus.
Is I-71 a toll road?
Mostly no. The mainline is toll-free, but the I-65 RiverLink bridges between Louisville and Jeffersonville (which I-71 begins on) carry tolls. There is no cash option. Payment is electronic only via E-ZPass or RiverLink account.
What major cities does I-71 connect?
I-71 directly serves Louisville, Cincinnati, Columbus, Mansfield, Medina, and Cleveland. It is the only single interstate that ties all three major Ohio metros together.
Does I-71 close in winter?
Rarely for sustained periods, but lake-effect snow events on the Cleveland approach can shut down lanes for hours. Ice events in central Ohio are uncommon but possible.
Where does I-71 cross I-75?
I-71 and I-75 share the Brent Spence Bridge across the Ohio River into Cincinnati and then run concurrent through downtown Cincinnati for about 2 miles before splitting. I-71 turns northeast toward Columbus and Cleveland; I-75 continues north toward Dayton and Toledo.
Interstate 71 Live Map
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