Ready for Riverfest? Here are road closures in Cincinnati, Covington and Newport

Emily DeLetter, Cincinnati Enquirer
·5 min read

Hundreds of thousands of people are expected to grace the Ohio and Kentucky banks of the Ohio River this Sunday for the annual Labor Day Riverfest celebration, culminating with the Western & Southern WEBN Fireworks spectacular as a way to bid adieu to summer.

If you are planning a river excursion this weekend, a number of roads and bridges in Cincinnati, Covington and Newport will be closed for the festivities and fireworks. Traffic will also be rerouted in various places.

Here's what you need to know about road closures this weekend.

Riverfest/WEBN fireworks:What to know before you go

Cincinnati traffic for Riverfest

The city of Cincinnati has closed several roads near and around the Ohio River to make room for the crowds of people expected to watch the fireworks from the waterfront.

Access to the Cincinnati riverfront will be limited to pedestrians only. Third Street, and all streets north of Third Street, will be open so people can access points throughout Downtown.

On-street parking will not be available throughout the downtown area south of Ninth Street after 11 a.m. on Sunday.

Cincinnati weather this weekend:Storms moving in for Riverfest, Labor Day

Here's what else will be closed:

  • The Purple People Bridge will be closed for the fireworks.

  • The Roebling Suspension Bridge and the Taylor Southgate Bridge will both close at 6 p.m. to vehicles and pedestrians, although pedestrians may cross on the west side of the Taylor Southgate Bridge until 7:30 p.m.

  • The Clay Wade Bailey Bridge will close to vehicles at 6 p.m.

  • Local access to I-471 (the Daniel Carter Beard Bridge) from Ohio will close at 7 p.m.

  • The Third Street exit from westbound Columbia Parkway will close at 9 p.m.

  • The Third Street exit from southbound I-71 will close at 9 p.m.

Covington traffic for Riverfest

Here's what will be closed Sunday in Covington, according to the city:

  • All streets north of E. Fourth Street from Madison Avenue to the Licking River will close to vehicular traffic at 6 p.m.

  • Just like Cincinnati, the Roebling Suspension Bridge and the Clay Wade Bailey Bridge will close to all traffic at 6 p.m.

  • The Fourth Street Bridge to Newport will close at 8 p.m.

Madison Avenue will remain open, to allow access to public parking lots and garages until they are either full, or at 6 p.m., whichever happens first. Once parking lots and garages are full, Madison Avenue will close to through traffic north of Fourth Street. There will be exceptions for TANK buses, invitation holders to the Metropolitan Club and hotel guests with room keys and parking passes.

Access to Devou Park, Kenton Hills and the Bluffs will be restricted beginning at 2 p.m. to residents and their guests only.

Streets inside the impact area will not reopen, and residents and guests will not be permitted to exit the area in a vehicle until pedestrians have safely cleared out and Covington Police determine it is safe to do so. This may take up to an hour after the fireworks are completed.

These areas within the impact area will be posted as “No Parking, Tow Away Zones.” Vehicles parked in these areas will be towed starting at 7 a.m. Sunday, including next to parking meters:

  • Riverside Drive.

  • Garrard Street, between E. Second Street and Riverside Drive.

  • Kennedy Street, between E. Second Street and Riverside Drive.

  • Shelby Street.

  • Scott Boulevard, north of E. Fourth Street.

  • Greenup Street, north of E. Fourth Street.

  • E. Third Street, east of Madison Avenue.

  • Park Place.

  • Court Street.

  • Surface lots along the floodwall on Rivercenter Boulevard, between Madison Avenue and Johnson Street and below the Roebling Suspension Bridge.

  • Grass areas in Devou Park.

All vehicles parked in garages and parking lots located in the impact area will not be permitted to leave until pedestrian traffic has cleared and Covington Police have determined that it is safe for vehicle traffic.

Newport traffic for Riverfest

Here's what to expect with road closures and other rules in Newport on Sunday:

  • Riverboat Row: Closes at 8 a.m.

  • Columbia Street, north of Fourth Street: Closes at 8 a.m.

  • Purple People Bridge, Pagan's Path: Closes at 2:30 p.m. for a brief fireworks display and the Rubber Duck Regatta.

  • Taylor Southgate Bridge: Closes to vehicles at 6 p.m. and pedestrians at 7:30 p.m.

  • Monmouth Street (Third to 11th streets): Closes at 7:30 p.m. No parking on Monmouth Street after 6:30 p.m.

  • Dave Cowens Drive: Closes at 7:30 p.m.

  • I-471 ramps to Route 8 (Exit 5) both north and south: Closes at 7:30 p.m.

  • 10th Street, between Saratoga and York streets: Closes at 7:30 p.m.

  • Fourth Street bridge: Closes at 8:30 p.m.

  • All other I-471 ramps: Closes at 8:30 p.m.

  • Licking Pike (Route 9), north of Aspen Drive: Closes at 9 p.m.

  • I-471 North will remain open during the event, unless the safety of the motorist determines it needs to be closed.

Here's what to know if you're leaving Newport after Riverfest:

  • All traffic leaving the event will be routed to I-471 or I-275. If you're directed to a route you are not wanting to take, continue to the route as instructed. Once you're on the interstate, just take any exit to be turned around. The street closures and large traffic may mean you can't take the direct route to your destination.

  • At approximately 9 p.m., Monmouth Street will reopen and will change to a one-way street going south, to send all traffic to I-471.

  • All traffic west of York Street will be directed south to 12th Street, which will become a one-way street going west to send all traffic to I-275.

  • All traffic near Dave Cowens Drive (Route 8) after the event will be sent to I-471 North or South.

  • All traffic leaving the event area going south on Columbia Street will have to make a right on W. Third Street. A right turn will take you around the Fourth Street roundabout and will be directed toward Wilder.

  • Once Covington Police open their side of the Fourth Street bridge, traffic will be allowed to travel west through Covington.

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Riverfest, WEBN Fireworks 2022: Road closures for this weekend's event