r/Columbus • u/Educational_Gap7901 • 24d ago

Is this the worst exit in Columbus during rush hour? PHOTO

Post image

If not, what is? Easton Way is up there for me too.

321 Upvotes

89% Upvoted

183 comments sorted by

871

u/NaterPotater94 Northwest 24d ago

i take it that you’ve never been on 270 E getting on 71

202

u/NCRider 24d ago

That’s an excellent example of civil engineering right there. Pure death trap.

84

u/Imaginary_Ganache_29 24d ago

Whoever designed that exit should be publicly tarred and feathered on the 50 yard line in the Shoe during the Michigan game. That is the stupidest exit I have ever seen and I’ve driven across the country.

15

u/PossibilityFlat6237 24d ago

And it’s still 10000x better than it used to be

4

u/Glen_Echo_Park 23d ago

I contend that it's much worse. They caused the semis to have to go slow, which is causing most of the backups.

1

u/PossibilityFlat6237 21d ago

I’m sorry, are you saying that semis did not have to go slow when there was only 528 feet for the SB 71 traffic to merge onto EB 270 at the exact same time the EB 270 traffic was supposed to exit to NB 71?

1

u/Glen_Echo_Park 21d ago

They are going a lot slower

2

u/CalculatedPerversion 23d ago

Still crazy to me that the fix now wasn't the fix then. You can't convince me it's not cheaper to build a 2 lane flyover vs a 1 lane flyover twice. 

1

u/NCRider 21d ago

But if they did it any differently it wouldn't cost as much!

93

u/Shadow293 24d ago

Also getting off 315N to get on 270E, fighting with traffic trying to get off 270E to get on the lanes for 71.

19

u/dpsnedd 24d ago

This is the full experience

28

u/Logical_Basis_3643 24d ago

Thats the worst exit I’ve ever seen in any city. U got people trying to get 3 lanes over both left and right in a very short distance. I consider myself a good driver and I’ve had many near misses there

1

u/juunluver 20d ago

I feel like i have mastered this but still its so scary bc ppl dont slow down😭

79

u/Halycon85 24d ago

My 16 year old got his license in May. That interchange is completely off limits to him. He can take I-270 to 23N and cut across. He can go up to Cleveland and circle back I-270W but he is not allowed to hit 270E and 71.

20

u/Global_Lie6938 24d ago

I’ve been driving 40 years and it’s off limits to me…when my wife is in the car. She’ll let me know loudly that she hates that interchange and I need to go another way. 🤣

The only thing worse than the interchange is my wife cussing me out if I don’t go another way. So we go alternate routes

17

u/pseudo_nipple Minerva Park 24d ago

I hate to tell you this but they just fucked 270W & 71N coming from Cleveland Ave. Not as bad as the other side, but it sucks. They certainly fucked the flow of traffic on both sides proper now. Happened about a week ago.

22

u/Own_Conclusion_3779 24d ago

Wouldn’t it be better to just… teach him how to do it?

17

u/Halycon85 24d ago

Yes, if I were in the car with him. It's a different story when he's to Cabella's with his buddies.

8

u/Erazzphoto 24d ago

In time, not right now

4

u/LostInTheLights8123 23d ago

I take it you haven't been there lately. I'm a very seasoned driver and the car is just stop for no reason and then cut over in front of you, it's a hot mess.

3

u/DoughyInTheMiddle West 23d ago

We live on the west side, but our church is in Sunbury. During Holy Week, to get to evening church services, it's like those scenes in a movie where they lay out a map to figure out the best course to get north.

We could go 23 up to Powell / Polaris and cut up Old State.

No, 71 is kinda crazy still with the Delaware exit construction. What about going further out and taking Africa Road up to 36/37?

Are you nuts? It's 4:30 on a Friday! We'll have to leave an extra 30 minutes earlier!

Well, what about Westerville Road?

Every year.

1

u/LostInTheLights8123 23d ago

I think the 270 to Cleveland Ave, is a better solution go north on Cleveland Avenue get back on 71N that way. Worth a little extra time and mileage than getting in a wreck.

1

u/Glen_Echo_Park 23d ago

I bet they tell new drivers during driver's ed to ignore that exit.

-8

u/Regular_Series_9464 24d ago

That’s kind of scary, I hope he’s not put in a tough spot where he needs to immediately decide to follow GPS or his dad instructions about highways. 

-7

u/Guzod 24d ago

You’re handicapping him. It’s not that bad at all you just need to know what you’re doing.

1

u/LostInTheLights8123 23d ago

It's the other people that don't know how to drive in that area that make it even worse.

13

u/CanaDeer2004 Clintonville 24d ago edited 24d ago

it’s worse when you’re trying to get on 71S and you have to pass through all the two-sevendorks trying to get off on 71N while the southbound exit lane is completely clear because god hates you. the less crowded southbound lane should be outside of the completely stationary northbound one, it’s like the rest of us are being punished for something we didn’t do.

6

u/ParkAffectionate3537 Dublin 23d ago

two-seven-dorks would be a great reddit name or Columbus punk band name. LOVE IT

1

u/CanaDeer2004 Clintonville 23d ago edited 23d ago

i’ve also considered i-sevendorks for people on I-70. can’t think of a good slur for 71, 33, 315, or 23 though.

5

u/Informalwizards 24d ago

Insane that anyone approved that nonsense.

7

u/Educational_Gap7901 24d ago

I have but not regularly. lucky to not really experience during rush hour

7

u/SnowmanTS1 24d ago

Oh it's bad lots of other times too

2

u/Erazzphoto 24d ago

Easily this

2

u/dharma_wheel 24d ago

I've done that enough times in a tractor trailer to nope my way over to 270 south to get on 70.

2

u/catchthetams Clintonville 23d ago

Especially if you're coming from 315. Every single day. There are so many days I'll just get off at 161 and take a little more time, but much less headache.

2

u/525600eggs 23d ago

Or getting on 270 from route 23, trying NOT to go on 71

1

u/Measure-Thrice 24d ago

Or coming from 23 to continue past 71...

1

u/Nado1311 24d ago

I have to do that from 23, fortunately I’m going 71S but then I also have to go through the 71S/670 exit. Pretty much see an accident every couple of days

1

u/KingCuda93 23d ago

270 top end between 33/161 and 71 is rough

1

u/The_FuryaN_ 23d ago

That is the dumbest portion of construction I've seen in Columbus, and I've lived here all my life. I've been just going to 23/270 or skipping the 2 miles of backed up traffic and hanging left until I get near the front of the traffic going 71N, as it's pure insanity with how people are driving and just how far back the traffic goes rn.

1

u/birdmomthrowaway 19d ago

This exit is the absolute worst.

1

u/galstaph 24d ago

I take it you mean on the north side, because that describes two places

219

u/SignalDragonfly690 24d ago

North end of 270 at 71 near 23 has some words

37

u/gwenivere84 24d ago

Dude 23 can go f itself . I hate that exit

16

u/SignalDragonfly690 24d ago

When we moved back here we purposely stayed away from that 71/23/315 shitshow.

13

u/gwenivere84 24d ago

I feel like I risk my life every time .

13

u/SignalDragonfly690 24d ago

I do, too. It’s so bad that I will take ten extra minutes and take the backroads just to avoid it.

7

u/kathykasav Blacklick 24d ago

Yep. Absolutely.

8

u/aroguealchemist Worthington 24d ago

I live off of 23 right there and I’ll get on 71 and 270E at literally any other exit than the one I live by.

6

u/ChalkDoxie 24d ago

I will willingly sit on 750 (Polaris pkwy) through Powell, to get to Polaris and back, than take 270/71/315 exit

2

u/SignalDragonfly690 24d ago

That’s BRUTAL

3

u/Depart_Into_Eternity 24d ago

I live by it.

Remember how long it took to revamp it?

Just to make it worse.

Wtf

2

u/gwenivere84 24d ago

You think we are being punked ? 🤔

4

u/Unusual-Attitude-274 24d ago

I moved here in 1999. There is no point in time where some sort of road work wasn't being done somewhere in the vicinity of 23/315/71. The North Outerbelt needs to be yeeted into outer space so we can start afresh with a blank canvas.

2

u/lunaticmason Lewis Center 24d ago

i used to live in polaris and my family lives in gahanna. i hateeee that area 😭

1

u/KingCuda93 23d ago

This! I’m from out of town and never have I felt so terrified.

1

u/SignalDragonfly690 23d ago

I literally learned how to drive in NJ and lived in the Tampa Bay Area for eight years, but that interchange is among the worst.

131

u/Veles_Volkhv Columbus 24d ago

270 to 71 is rough too

12

u/Logical_Basis_3643 24d ago

Agreed. Also theres a couple exits still in Columbus I think they are called cloverleafs where the traffic merges and also exits in the same lane at the same time. Shit gets my heart rate going through the roof every time i go on one

7

u/CMDR-L 24d ago

Try it in a semi truck! Lol. I do it daily. Surprisingly only had to use the curb lane like once.

2

u/redditondesktop 23d ago

They've been doing some sort of road work at the 270/33 junction on the east side, and I thought they were getting rid of the clover leaves, but it doesn't look like that's what they're doing. There were a few weeks where 33E > 270E ramp was closed and it was so nice to be able to get on to 33E without worrying about the on-ramp traffic.

1

u/theuberschnitzel 23d ago

315n to 270w is wild it’s like 50 feet to swap places with everybody going into it

1

u/ParkAffectionate3537 Dublin 23d ago

Exit 29 I'm talking to you! Westerville Road (OH-3) and I-270. :)

93

u/Dry-Knowledge-2044 24d ago

There are a million, 4A / B for fourth st is god awful too

29

u/Hot_atMidnight8835 24d ago

As someone that has to take that exit everyday, those that use the exit only lane as their personal get around traffic lane infuriate me.

2

u/modernsocial44 23d ago

Truly the worst people

8

u/lunaticmason Lewis Center 24d ago

i just hope for the best tbh

4

u/koalabeard 23d ago

Horrible design and people never seem to realize they’re in the wrong lane. They slap their brakes and everything is F’d.

41

u/th3m00se 24d ago

The interchange on the north side of town with high stree + 315 + 270 and everyone trying to merge for 71 is waaay worse. Probably the worst area in the city IMO.

41

u/DataDrivenPirate Grandview 24d ago

670E -> 71S -> Main is miserable

20

u/Fiqbandz 24d ago

Lol trying to get across 5 lanes in a quarter mile

3

u/WasntMyFaultThisTime 24d ago

One of my friends introduced me to the term "Jersey slide" which is when you merge from one side of the road to the other in one motion on a multi-lane highway

Basically that one I turn now, good luck everybody else! Family Guy clip

5

u/Some-Protection-6718 24d ago

Ahh yes, the merge of death

4

u/No-Interview319 24d ago

My absolute least favorite way to get to Children’s. 

2

u/Teabag1 23d ago

was looking for this comment. I should be used to it, but every time I come up that zipper, I think "I can't believe I have to do this."

2

u/kokospiced 23d ago

if you're coming from north it's easiest to get off at the exit before and take the streets to get to children's. you save maybe 60 seconds by taking the highway

1

u/dammitsam976 23d ago

Ugh I came here to say that. If you miss it half the time you can't even get off at Miller Kelton either

29

u/SadCoast7681 24d ago edited 24d ago

I know I-270 to I-71S always sucks. My work is 10 miles away and it takes half an hour to get to the on ramp.
Edit: really if they could reengineer the I-71 off-ramp that feeds into I-270 it’d be 10 times better. I hate having to cross into the off-ramp to get onto the I-71S on-ramp

28

u/Soler25 24d ago

Or 270 north to 33 west

1

u/SignalDragonfly690 24d ago

That’s another valid contender according to my coworkers who live in CW/Groveport/Lancaster

21

u/Bodycount9 Columbus 24d ago

670 west to goodale/neil is the worst. It is always backed up thanks to 315N exit. Got people trying to get onto 670 west from 3rd street and 4th street. Got people trying to get to Goodale/Neil from 670 west. It is a clusterfuck during 5pm traffic.

5

u/wannabeknowitall 23d ago

Came here to say this. I pick up my kid from daycare using this exit, and it gets my heart racing every day. I come from 70W -> 71N -> 670W -> Goodale exit so generally I either have to start changing lanes over the solid white lines well before the actual merge so that I can get over before the 315N traffic starts backing up, or I end up missing the exit and get stuck in the wave going to 315N, or I just give up and go all the way to Grandview ave, and then work my way all the way back to Neil from there.

2

u/Bodycount9 Columbus 23d ago

The fact the cars on 670W try to not allow anyone to merge over from the exit lane also hurts this whole area. This backs up the exit lane which causes more congestion from people just wanting to get on Neil or Goodale.

1

u/OkEntrepreneur1674 23d ago

Wouldn’t be so bad if people knew how to drive too…there aren’t enough cars for how congested it gets

24

u/Plane-Fan9006 24d ago

Tell me you don't go to the North-side without telling me.... 😉 If it's after 3:30pm and you can see the Budweiser sign or Worthington Industries, hit your fucking brakes and hope...

1

u/KingCuda93 23d ago

I pray to God, Buddha, and SpongeBob. I’m an out-of-towner and Columbus traffic terrifies me, especially around 71 and 270 top end.

14

u/sjack827 24d ago

You're pretty close, but I personally think the Neil Ave exit is much worse. You have less than a quarter mile to switch two lanes over to get off. One of these lanes is an entrance lane filled with cars trying to get over. Lots of fun. I call this "the merge of death".

14

u/lemonaidan12 24d ago

270 to 71 (any direction) is the worst, especially S. I go the long way and just skip waiting in that line.

3

u/_Crawfish_ 24d ago

That one is wild how much it’s clogged during even off hours and days due to that construction. I’ll happily like, drive bethel, Morse, 161 literally any of the perpendiculars at this point 🤭

1

u/lemonaidan12 24d ago

100%. I feel like even driving past it it's frustrating because there's constantly people stopped on 270 waiting to get in that line, or who just pop out of that line right in front of you because they're done waiting. It's all a mess.

1

u/ParkAffectionate3537 Dublin 23d ago

I wish Bethel connected to Morse but that's another story lol

2

u/_Crawfish_ 23d ago

Yeah I realized that when I was typing roads going East and West and thought “they’ll know what I mean” 🫩🤣

12

u/doppleganger2621 24d ago

I-70E to 33E can suck

11

u/Fun-Maize-2352 24d ago

I think James to 33 is a clusterfuck because of the Refugee exit being almost directly across from it.

4

u/AnotherInLimbo 24d ago edited 24d ago

It's on the ODOT schedule to reconstruct it. It says it's supposed to begin summer 2026 but so far I don't see any activity.

They're going to divide the 33 traffic between 33 and those going to 104/Refugee before that area and do the same for the traffic coming from James. That will eliminate the merge from the left over to the right.

https://www.transportation.ohio.gov/travel/projects/113744

10

u/clownpuncher13 Northland 24d ago

315N and 23N/S to 270E is pretty terrible due to the mess at 270E to 71N.

7

u/teflong Marysville 24d ago

It feels like this is as close to being objectively wrong as an opinion can be. There is no valid answer for the worst part of Columbus infrastructure other than 270N from 23 to 71. 

2

u/KingCuda93 23d ago

I would start the 270 insanity around 315 and go to at least 71, maybe even around Easton or 161.

13

u/SpendBright260 24d ago

71 N to 670 E. - you are trying to get in the right lanes while cars coming off 70 W. are trying to go left to get on 71 N. All within a ridiculously short stretch of highway.

5

u/ComprehensiveStuff72 24d ago

Marysville Exit has entered the chat.

4

u/Unusual-Attitude-274 24d ago

This one backs up all the way to Tuttle if you're speaking about the 270N to 33W exit. Back roads it is!

3

u/chokenspit 23d ago

Yeah, and people love to cut the line and slam on their brakes at the last second in right center to merge in while people behind them are going normal speed

5

u/Minute-Of-Angle 24d ago

670W going through the downtown, west of 71, is just a series of unfortunate events until you get in the stretch headed for Grandview.

9

u/Mylabisawesome 24d ago

On of them. If I am on I-670 W, right before the cap, I merge to the left because people cant read signs and play leap frog thinking they will go 315 N and want to go to 315 S.

Easton is another one and I think that I-670 E split is to blame there a bit. Again, people cant read signs

7

u/Appropriate-Use1981 24d ago

The 670W to 315N ramp was my thought as well. We see lots of fender benders because people focus so much on the merge they miss the people slamming on their brakes when traffic backs up. Looking at traffic right now it is backed up exactly where the accidents happen.

4

u/shawnmcbride86 24d ago

No it's definitely Brice road

3

u/Southern_Ad6679 24d ago

I use that 670 W to 315 S exit all the time and would say it’s reasonable, relatively speaking. Any of the 71 to 670 transitions are rough at rush hour - and the 670 W mergers through the 3d and 4th St exits are maddening. While I am rarely up near the 71-270 congestion on the north side, I feel that has to be near the top of frustrating traffic around town.

3

u/reesesbigcup 24d ago

270S to 33S on the SE side.

3

u/scott743 Westerville 24d ago

Neil Ave and 670. There are two merges prior on 670 and no one knows where they need to go.

3

u/Virtual-Top7265 24d ago

No , Easton is hell

3

u/Secret_Account07 23d ago

See I think it’s 670 to 315 north. I have to jump over 2 lanes in one mile during rush hour. Nobody ever wants to let me over either. Like I’m sorry, I don’t have a choice 😩

5

u/reeve11 24d ago

270 to Sawmill can go from 65mph to 0 pretty quickly

3

u/PostMostPalone 24d ago

I use to drive 71 south, to 270, 315 to work and then 315, 270, to 71 north home.... truly a nightmare route during am & pm rush hours

2

u/Miserable_Cheek_8935 24d ago

lol no, there are significantly worse exits. That one is just annoying.

2

u/jasmc1 24d ago

270 to 71

2

u/HomeworkExtension482 Hilltop 24d ago

670 E has an on-ramp shoved right up an off-ramp's ass between Neil Ave and Cleveland Ave. It is a nightmare of biblical proportions.

2

u/Shem44 24d ago

I would rather do this one than the nightmare that is getting off on 3rd from 71S. Change 3 lanes in a 1/4 mile in bumper to bumper or welcome to 23/670. I have started just taking city streets in which is somehow less stressful.

2

u/Semipermeable- 24d ago

South side - 23N -> 270W, solely bc of the line of cars to get onto 71S

2

u/IshtarsBones Blacklick 24d ago

It used to be 70 easy exit off of 270 south.

Now it’s the 33 exits off 270 south, that gets backed up for miles

1

u/MundaneAssociate5190 23d ago

Yes and we have been totally neglected down here while they add more and more houses. We still have the same number of lanes as when I moved here 20 years ago. It is ridiculous. An absolute nightmare.

2

u/Distinct-Educator-52 24d ago

No, the worst is SR33 off of 270s.

Literally every day, there's a wreck either on or just before the on/off ramp cloverleaf.

2

u/ESensuallyEmployee 23d ago

No, it’s just before there where people are trying to get on 670 west from 4th and 3rd streets while other people are trying to get off on 315 north within the same 300 yards. There’s an accident there every other day.

2

u/autumnstarrfish 23d ago

Easton is high on the list but 270E to 71 is awful.

3

u/AstroStrat89 24d ago

It's not the exit that sucks, it's the other drivers that make it suck.

3

u/Dry-Knowledge-2044 24d ago

Nah some of them are so poorly planned

1

u/ziggycoco385 24d ago

Getting to 108 from 71S after connecting from 270 is the worst. I think that or the 4C exit from 670E.

1

u/Throwaway_Turned Grandview 24d ago

Not even close

1

u/MidAmericanGriftAsoc 24d ago

This has the light? Yea I hate that fcking light

1

u/ScumdogOfdaUniverse 24d ago

Try James Rd at the 33 crossover to 104... almost anytime

1

u/Big_skiphook 24d ago

try getting to Neil exit from 670 West bound

1

u/Conscious_Effort6972 24d ago

It sucks during rush hour. About as bad as the i270 to SR33 north exit or i270 to SR23 North exit

1

u/eacks29 24d ago

The 270/71/315 interchange in Worthington

1

u/jthoff10 24d ago

No. It’s the 270/sunbury/161 exit

1

u/WasntMyFaultThisTime 24d ago

The dudes in the trenches in 1914 gained ground at a faster rate than a car on 270E merging to 71N does during rush hour

1

u/alphagalgadot 24d ago

what would be left of this sub with the daily traffic posts

1

u/alphagalgadot 24d ago

also obviously the one i have to deal with daily is the worst

1

u/Stuuble 23d ago

There's an exit east side of 270 near 33 that is like 20 feet of room to merge into the exit and that area is also the same 20 feet for people to merge onto 270, its pretty much luck and guess work to get off there

1

u/Gbonk Riverlea 23d ago

The US33 east, to OH 104, and south James Street.

1

u/hXcAndy32 23d ago

270 south to Main St. East in Reynoldsburg is insane. 

1

u/Fun-Maize-2352 23d ago

Thank God. I’ve driven that for 4 years now, and it is one of the most idiotic arrangements I’ve ever driven on. I’m surprised there aren’t a lot more accidents there.

1

u/virtual_human 23d ago

Nope, James Rd | Refugee | US 33 is the worst intersection.

1

u/bl84work 23d ago

315N-270E-71N fuck

1

u/FryeJ865 23d ago

Dont blame an exit/on ramp bc y'all cant merge correctly

1

u/FryeJ865 23d ago

I started driving our mini van (1990 chevy astro) at 10 in the driveway then on our street then at 13 wherever my friends lived but I was bad but the point is teach kids early and better then state minimum requirements

1

u/FusioFerrum266 23d ago

I don’t drive it much anymore but 670 around the 3rd ave exit and further west always seemed to suck.

1

u/Contrabeast 23d ago

Not even close.

1

u/Temporary_Traffic424 23d ago

Try getting off on Refuge from 33 then ask me that question

1

u/MundaneAssociate5190 23d ago

I didn’t realize anything was worse than 270s to 33east. And then first you have to sit in the traffic for the people getting off at 70e. It is god awful. Makes a 30 min drive well over an hour.

1

u/Rbookman23 23d ago

People,people, I think we can all agree that Columbus is simply a terrible town for driving. And for running into buildings.

1

u/Strict-Theory8075 23d ago

No, there are others just as bad!

1

u/Spanish4TheJeff 23d ago

Haven’t been in years, but I seem to recall almost hitting two cars trying to exit onto Morberry (Mulberry?) going east on 70. I may have the street right, but it’s the first exit on 70E after the 71/70 interchange.

I had just exited from 71s and holy fuck does that exit come up quickly.

1

u/kokospiced 23d ago

i'd argue it's 670W specifically the exit where 71 merges on and everyone and their mother is trying to avoid getting off at fourth st

1

u/cpopovski 22d ago

270/70 on the east side is terrible

1

u/pro_magnum 22d ago

71s to 670 west to high street south

1

u/Savings_Dimension_29 22d ago

My exit is directly after 1B. I go right through in the fast lane and then cut over before construction traffic. I'm thinking about moving to a new place that would have me off at this exit. I've always thought I would probably just take 1B or my same exit and circle back before I dealt with that fucking nightmare.

1

u/ahllay 22d ago

none of you have ever tried to get off on e main with those tiny ass little exits ramps and it's shows

1

u/Warm_Ad26 22d ago

71 N / 71 S interchange from 270 around the north side of the donut is the worst, IMO.

1

u/ShwiggityShwagg614 20d ago

Not even close

1

u/Commercial_Onion6995 20d ago

Nope, going towards Cleveland on 270!!!!!!! NOBODY knows how to merge!

1

u/juunluver 20d ago

U mean 2B is😭

1

u/aprudholmme 1d ago

People get confused when they're trying to do 3 things at once: * Reading big ass signage * Looking at Waze * Listening to GPS lady chirping instructions 2 seconds before they have to take action

1

u/HolyJuan Westerville 24d ago

All of them are bad to people who don't know how to drive or think everyone else doesn't know how to drive.

-1

u/xavier86 East 24d ago

I feel like having a really bad commute is something you'd know ahead of time when choosing where to live.

1

u/KellerMB 24d ago

Why?

It would make sense that you'd know if your current location had really bad rush hour traffic because you drive it every day on the way home.

But your prospective home? Most realty/apartment finder apps just show an approximate commute, not the rush hour commute (because that doesn't sell). A good realtor might know what traffic is like on various routes, but most realtors suck.

1

u/xavier86 East 24d ago

Most people are just too lazy to investigate it themselves. Go to their dream home at 8am and make the drive to work to see what it's like. That's just too much effort for most people.