Columbus Highway Closures: I-70 Westbound Closed Downtown This Weekend

Published Saturday, October 31, 2026 · Updated October 31, 2026, 6 AM ET · 5 min read · By Hassan, Owner of Roadmate Services

I-70 westbound is closed in downtown Columbus between I-71 and SR-315 until after 5 AM on Monday, November 2. The closure started at 10 PM on Friday, October 30, so ODOT crews can patch the bridges. The I-70 westbound ramp to the I-71 southbound flyover is closed for the same time.

That is the latest of the Columbus highway closures this fall, reported by The Columbus Dispatch (Friday, October 30, 2026), citing ODOT. ODOT says bridge patching usually means removing old concrete and putting in new. Check OHGO before you leave, because plans can change with the weather.

The weather should not add much to it. As of Friday morning, October 30, NBC4 expected a cloudy, mostly dry weekend with highs near 70, and a chance of showers Sunday night into Monday. The clocks also go back an hour early Sunday, so the closure is technically an hour longer than it looks. Nobody asked for that bonus hour of detour.

The I-70 westbound closure at a glance

How to get around the I-70 closure downtown

These are ODOT’s recommended detours, as reported by the Dispatch:

• Staying on I-70 west: take I-71 north to I-670 west, then follow it back to I-70 west.
• Heading for I-71 south: take I-670 west to SR-315 south, then rejoin I-71 south.

Both detours squeeze extra traffic onto downtown ramps that are busy on a normal day. Expect slow spots at the merges, especially Saturday afternoon. Your GPS will probably find its own way around too. It means well.

Before you drive a detour: a quick car check

A detour adds miles and stop-and-go time, and stop-and-go is where a weak car gives up. Two minutes in the driveway saves a lot of time on a ramp.

1. Fuel up first. Do not start a detour on the low-fuel light. Our guide to running out of gas on the highway explains why the last few miles always run out faster than the gauge says.
2. Watch the temperature gauge. Idling in traffic is hard on a cooling system that is already weak. If the needle climbs, turn off the A/C and get off at the next exit.
3. Look at your tires. A tire that looks low in the driveway is worse after 20 minutes of merging. Put air in it before you go.
4. Charge your phone. If you need help, you will need to say exactly where you are.

What to do if your car stops on a detour or in a work zone

Get safe, then call. Ramps and work zones have little room, so the order matters.

1. Turn on your hazards as soon as something feels wrong.
2. If the car is still moving, get off at the next exit or as far right as you can. A parking lot beats a shoulder every time.
3. If you stop on a shoulder, stay in the car with your seat belt on unless the car is smoking or on fire. Do not stand between the car and traffic.
4. If you are stuck in a live lane or anyone is hurt, call 911.
5. When you call for help, give the road, the direction and the nearest exit or ramp. “I-670 west, just past the I-71 ramp” gets help to you much faster than “downtown somewhere.”

Our step-by-step guide to what to do when your car breaks down on the highway covers every case, including a flat on the traffic side.

Why work zones and narrow shoulders make a breakdown harder

I know how tight a Columbus shoulder can get. Last week my team changed two trailer tires on I-270 east, above I-71, where there was almost no room between the trailer and the guardrail and trucks were passing close. One of us stood back in a high-visibility jacket waving cars out of the right lane while we worked as fast and as carefully as we could. That is our job. It should not be yours.

Do not count on traffic moving over for you either. Ohio Revised Code 4511.213 requires drivers to move over or slow down for stationary emergency, public safety, road service, waste collection and highway maintenance vehicles with flashing lights. It does not list a private car with its hazards on. Stay buckled in and off the roadway.

When you drive through a work zone, slow down, keep your distance and put the phone away. The crews patching that bridge are standing a few feet from your mirror.

Broken down in Columbus? Roadside help on the highway

If your car just needs a jump and someone with cables can safely reach you in a parking lot, you may not need us at all. On a highway shoulder or a ramp, it is better to wait for help in the car.

In Columbus, jump starts are usually $75 to $150, fuel delivery is usually $60 to $110 + fuel cost, and a tow is usually $125 to $275 for about 1 to 15 miles. You see the price before anyone drives to you.

We work 6 AM to 8 PM daily, Eastern Time, and arrive in about 32 minutes on average, depending on traffic, weather and location. Detours count as traffic. See our Columbus tow service and fuel delivery in Columbus. Our Columbus driver’s calendar lists the other big dates this fall, and driving after the clocks go back covers Monday’s first dark commute.

Frequently asked questions

The bottom line

I-70 westbound is closed downtown between I-71 and SR-315 until after 5 AM Monday. Use the I-71 and I-670 detour, fuel up first, check OHGO before you leave, and if your car stops, get safe, then call.

By Monday morning the bridges should be patched and I-70 back to its usual self. Busy, but at least going the right way.

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