After being postponed due to weather Tuesday night and Wednesday morning, the Interstate 75 traffic pattern change through downtown was nearly complete Friday morning.

Traffic was reportedly backed up past Stanley Avenue on I-75 south as Ohio Department of Transportation crews began the transition of I-75 south lanes to the northbound side of the highway Thursday night.

ODOT crews first narrowed three lanes down to two and then later down to one. According to ODOT the change is expected to be completed by 6 a.m. Friday.

The goal of the traffic flip is to allow three lanes southbound and two lanes northbound.

The following ramps have already closed:

Ramps from Monument Street and Second Street to I-75 south

Ramps from I-75 south to First Street and Third Street

The ramps will remain closed. A newly constructed ramp is scheduled to reopen in this area in 2016.

Once southbound traffic is moved to the northbound side of I-75, crews will demolish and then reconstruct southbound I-75. The lane switchover will take place between Main Street and U.S. 35

ODOT is advising drivers to use extreme caution in this area.

The northbound exit and entrance ramps to I-75, which closed this fall, will remain closed throughout the project.

According to ODOT, the following ramps will remain open throughout construction and serve as primary detours to access downtown:

Jefferson Street off U.S. 35

Main Street off I-75

Edwin C. Moses Boulevard off I-75

The project will create three continuous lanes in both directions from Third to Main streets and upgrade pavement. The $126 million project is expected to be completed in fall 2017.

Arrow boards and signs will be in place prior to the work zone to alert motorists of the upcoming closure. Law enforcement will be on hand to monitor traffic flow, Abner said.