U.S. 33 (Riverside Drive) between Fishinger Road and River Park Drive reopened Wednesday, Sept. 23, ending a closure that lasted about 51 days and forced Hilliard-area commuters onto I-270 detours.

The Ohio Department of Transportation's Columbus district (ODOT District 6) announced the reopening on X, saying crews replaced the culvert beneath U.S. 33 and upgraded the storm sewer system at the Fishinger Road intersection. The agency said the work will improve drainage and reduce flooding risk on the highway.

The $2.22 million project, listed as PID 108081 on ODOT's project page, is categorized as culvert preservation. The work site sits near River Park Drive, within Columbus and Upper Arlington city limits.

Closure ran longer than planned

The stretch of U.S. 33, also known as Riverside Drive, closed Aug. 3. ODOT originally estimated a 45-day closure, which would have put the reopening around mid-September. The closure lasted about 51 days.

Heavy rains in August slowed but did not stop the work. ODOT posted an update on X on Aug. 24 saying the project was still making progress despite the storms.

As we reported Aug. 25, the project was in Step 4 of 5 at that point, and the detour was expected to stretch into September.

Hilliard detour now lifted

During the closure, ODOT's posted detour sent northbound and westbound traffic along Fishinger Road or Cemetery Road to the Hilliard I-270 entrance and exit ramps. Southbound drivers coming from Dublin used SR 161, also known as West Bridge Street, to reach the Dublin I-270 ramps.

COTA rerouted its Line 73 and Zoo Bus when the closure began Aug. 3. The transit agency said at the time that no stops would be missed during the detour. Whether those routes have returned to normal has not been confirmed.

Residents with questions about the project can contact ODOT District 6 at [email protected] or 740-833-8268.