Ridge Road section near I-71 overpass closed through July 31

CINCINNATI (WXIX) - A portion of Ridge Road near the Interstate 71 overpass will be closed for more than a week following a water main break on July 8.

Ridge Road at Highland Avenue near the I-71 overpass is closed through July 31, according to the Hamilton County Engineers. Initially, the closure was supposed to go through July 19.

The contractor’s detour will be from Highland Avenue - Kennedy Avenue - to Ibsen Avenue - Ridge Avenue and vice versa, the Hamilton County Engineers said.

Sally Thelen, spokesperson, Duke Energy released a statement about what led up to the water main break:

“While Duke Energy is doing work in the area to replace a natural gas pipeline, the company did not cause the subsequent water main breaks resulting in the road closure. As Duke Energy contractors began their work on the pipeline it was identified that Greater Cincinnati Water Works had installed a pipeline too close to the existing natural gas pipeline. Water Works was contacted to come remove the section of their water line that was encroaching on the natural gas infrastructure.

“It was after that section of water line was isolated that water main breaks occurred not in area where Duke Energy was doing their work. This water line relocation work did cause flooding within Duke Energy’s work zone which has impacted the speed of Duke Energy getting their work done in the area, but crews are working as quickly and safely as possible to finish our gas replacement work in this area. To reiterate, Duke Energy did not physically damage any facilities of the Greater Cincinnati Water Works during its replacement of its pipeline in the area.”

The Hamilton County Engineer’s Office decided to keep that segment of Highland closed to traffic until Duke Energy is done with its work, according to GCWW.

The Hamilton County Sheriff’s dispatcher said the call came in before 12:30 p.m. for a water main break on Ridge Road near Jack in the Box.

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