I-75 widening. Liberty Interchange top area road projects
INTERACTIVE MAP: See where construction will take place
COMMENT: How will the construction projects affect your commute?
Thursday, April 10, 2008
HAMILTON — The widening of Interstate 75 tops a slate of road projects unveiled by the Ohio Department of Transportation Wednesday, April 9.
ODOT is bidding out a $154 million project this year to add a lane in both directions for 8.8 miles from Middletown to the Montgomery County line. This follows a $99 million effort already under way to widen the interstate from Cincinnati-Dayton Road to Ohio 122.
Extras
Get latest headlines via RSS feeds"This is the largest project in the state," said Hans Jindal, District 8 deputy director at ODOT.
Another major project moving ahead this year is the long-awaited Liberty Interchange, providing an I-75 intersection at Hamilton-Mason Road.
The $15 million project is scheduled to start in May and end in October 2009. Once complete, Butler County Transportation Improvement District officials say it could create 10,000 jobs and open 600 acres to development.
In Warren County, the third phase of a project widening U.S. 22 and Ohio 3 is under way. The $35 million project extends from just south of Montgomery, in Hamilton County, to the Foster Viaduct over the Little Miami River in Warren County. Work is expected to wrap up by winter.
The 2008 construction season includes 94 projects statewide, totaling $636 million.
But with increased costs of construction and a dwindling state budget, Jindal said some smaller projects may be put on hold in coming years. Some were stalled this year, he said, though none in Butler or Warren counties.
Jindal said current projections put the agency $114 million short by 2009, and $3.5 billion short by 2015.
"We need to prioritize our transportation investments," he said, announcing a statewide task force that will balance the budget against congestion, growth, job creation and other road needs.
Jindal also stressed the need for drivers to be careful around construction projects, saying 40,000 people die every year in construction related traffic accidents.
"Allow a few extra minutes of driving time, stay focused and be patient," he said.
Contact this reporter at jsweigart@coxohio.com.
Comments
By Liz
April 17, 2008 1:52 PM | Link to this
I sure can’t wait to see this new interchange go in! We need to further expand the I-75 corridor beyond a north/south direction and this will be just what it needs.
By Randy
April 10, 2008 8:16 PM | Link to this
Am I the only one who finds it incredible that a wider I-75 is needed through a suburban area that is less populated and overall has fewer jobs than the core of the region? ODOT needs to start building comprehensive transit networks, as well as, an interconnected road network that allows multiple routes to be used for traffic patterns - not just a few mega-routes.
By Mark
April 10, 2008 8:55 AM | Link to this
Not sure exactly what the “Another major project moving ahead this year is the long-awaited Liberty Interchange, providing an I-75 intersection at Hamilton-Mason Road.” accomplishes. Is this another ramp on I-75 ? Why is it needed if it is? We have plenty of ramps already from Monroe to Cincinnati already.