The Ohio Department of Transportation is teaming up with the Highway Patrol and the city of Monroe to handle what’s expected to be a major surge in traffic around the Cincinnati Premium Outlets on Friday. Drivers on I-75 will see message boards in both directions near the State Route 63 interchange, warning them about heavier traffic and reminding them not to stop on the interstate. ODOT crews will also place traffic cones on the northbound I-75 off-ramp to help guide drivers heading east and west on Route 63. And just in time for the holiday rush, ODOT says the newly widened, four-lane section of State Route 63 between Monroe and Lebanon opened to traffic Monday. The project is designed to reduce congestion, improve safety, and increase capacity in the fast-growing area. With coordinated efforts on I-75 through Monroe, ODOT says Black Friday travelers can expect smoother traffic flow — and hopefully save time on the road as well as in the stores.

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