Interstate 74 (I-74) in the US state of Ohio runs for 19.47 mi southeast from the Indiana border to the western segment's current eastern terminus at I-75 just north of Downtown Cincinnati. It is also signed with U.S. Route 52 (US 52) for its entire length.

Route description

The Ohio portion of I-74 begins on the Indiana border near Harrison and travels east. Shortly after crossing into Ohio, the Interstate curves southeast before it intersects with I-275 near milepost 5. It then overlaps with that beltway route, heading generally east for approximately 4 mi before splitting from I-275 to continue southeast into Cincinnati. Approximately 10 mi later, I-74 reaches its eastern terminus at I-75, about 4 mi north-northwest of Downtown Cincinnati.

History

Future

Proposals call for I-74 to be continued through Ohio and into West Virginia, concurrent with I-73; with both of these roads continuing through Virginia and North Carolina to end in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. Due to funding concerns, there are no concrete plans for this to occur. However, several plans are in the running for the extension through the Cincinnati metropolitan area. They include: The second route was eliminated due to opposition regarding a key part of its completion: a $366.2-million highway that would need to be constructed near Mariemont and Newtown (terminuses: Red Bank Road/Wooster Pike intersection and Bells Lane). Total costs would have been $809.1 million ($62 million per mile (62 e6$/mi/km)). Improvements to existing roads have been proposed instead. The Norwood Lateral (SR 562) would need to be reconstructed in order to become part of I-74. Here are the possible and/or most likely needs: a third travel lane in each direction (two each way currently), overpasses requiring more vertical clearance (16 ft minimum), upgraded ramp extensions at interchanges (1200 ft), and shoulders of more width. There are highways with shoulder widths of 4 and 8 ft, however; so this might not be a serious issue. This problem could be resolved through Congress if they wanted to designate the Norwood Lateral as a future segment of the Interstate Highway System.

Exit list