I-71 to be closed for third time for bridge demolition

Interstate 71 will be closed for the third time from 6 a.m. to 11 a.m. Sunday for demolition of the old Jeremiah Morrow Bridge.

» EARLIER: I-71 bridge, Ohio’s tallest, nears completion after 6 years, $104M

The Ohio Department of Transportation had previously announced it would not be closing I-71 between the Ohio 73 and Ohio 48 exits, along with the Little Miami River and trail running along it between Wilmington Road and Ohio 350 to demolish the steel structure remaining after three demolition attempts on two previous Sunday mornings.

“That’s what we were hoping,” ODOT spokesman Brian Cunningham said Monday. “Due to safety precautions, it’s the most appropriate approach.”

RELATED: Bridge implosion misfires

Twice, explosives were used to implode the old southbound span on Sunday, April 23. A week later, a third detonation failed to implode the remaining piece of the span.

»MORE: Video story on completion of Morrow bridge construction

The remaining steel is “so entangled,” ODOT and contractors hired to do the job are concerned it could hit the new bridge, Cunningham said Monday.

WATCH: Section of Jeremiah Morrow Bridge is imploded

“If we didn’t have the bridge closed, we could have some big-time trouble,” Cunningham added.

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More details are to be released before the end of the week.

The detours are to follow Ohio 73, US 42 and Ohio 48.

The two rest areas near the bridge will also be closed.

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A temporary flight restriction will be in place wihtin a half-mile horizontal radius and 3,000 feet mean sea level from the bridge from 6:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m.

Unmanned aircraft systems, also known as drones, will not be permitted within this area.

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