By Kristin Rover
Sun staff

The tunnel in Eastgate won’t be opened as soon as originally planned, officials with the Ohio Department of Transportation said.

Ohio Representative John Becker asked about the status of the tunnel, which was originally going to open the first part of the year, during the Clermont Transportation Improvement District meeting Feb. 13.

“We’re going to open it when the fly-over is open,” Jason Haus, ODOT project manager, said.

Haus said they are waiting for lighting to be finished in the tunnel and didn’t want to open without the lights.

Now that the opening is behind schedule it makes more sense to open the tunnel and the fly-over at the same time, Haus said.

“There will be less jockeying people around,” Haus said.

Haus said they will also be able to pave everything at once.

The fly-over is scheduled to be complete this summer.

“We got the beams set over 32,” Haus said about the fly-over. “We are still on track to be done with the whole thing Sept. 4.”

Clermont County Engineer Patrick Manger said in November of 2014 that so far in Eastgate crews have completed work on Eastgate Boulevard and re-opened ramps onto state Route 32 from Eastgate Boulevard.

The next changes revolve around I-275, Manger said in November.

Manger said those changes include switching the traffic lanes at the I-275/32 intersection in order to complete the other side of the I-275 bridge construction.

The tunnel will allow drivers to continue east on state Route 32 from I-275 without stopping, Manger said.

Manger said the changes will speed up traffic by giving drivers another choice.

A raised ramp over I-275 to allow southbound I-275 drivers to exit east on SR 32 without stopping is the last piece of the puzzle, Manger said.

For more information about road projects in Clermont County visit www.goclermont.org.