By James Pilcher
The Cincinnati Enquirer

Radar tell-tales showing speeds of vehicles heading into the Lytle Tunnel will become a reality this weekend.

The Ohio Department of Transportation announced Wednesday that it would be installing the signs by Monday night and that they would be operational by Tuesday. They will show the posted advisory speed of 40 mph and then flash a vehicle's speed as it heads into the Interstate 71 tunnel. Both ends will be monitored.

Last August, ODOT executive director Gordon Proctor ordered the signs after another rash of truck tipovers at the tunnel. Between the beginning of 2001, soon after the $328 million reconstruction of Fort Washington Way was completed, and August 2002, 22 trucks tipped over in or near the curvy, 1,000-foot tunnel. There have been no such tips since two trucks toppled in the span of nine hours last August. No one was seriously hurt in any of the accidents

ODOT said the signs will not be used for law enforcement purposes and are only being used to advise truck drivers. The agency has already installed rumble strips and large signs with flashing lights.

E-mail jpilcher@enquirer.com