The southbound lanes of I-71 are open again after a nearly 7-hour backup due to a cluster of semi-trucks stuck in the snow and ice at the on-ramp to the Brent Spence Bridge. The backup first began around 3:15 p.m. along Fort Washington Way in downtown Cincinnati, eventually stretching the length of the thoroughfare into the Lytle Tunnel. As the semis remained stuck in the snow, some drivers diverted around it, but the backup continued along I-71 South up the lanes to the Hard Rock Casino area near the Gilbert Avenue exit. Traffic cameras captured dozens of tail lights due to the bumper-to-bumper backup. Just after 8:30 p.m., the Ohio Department of Transportation said it had two plow crews working to clear the roadway. ODOT urged drivers to find an alternate route, but they said it should reopen within the next hour. Just after 10 p.m., traffic finally began moving after crews were able to move one of the semi-trucks off to the side of the roadway.