Several property and business owners along Ohio 73 near Interstate 75 in Franklin are concerned about a new cement barrier they say is hurting their businesses.

One business owner said he is prepared to leave the city if a compromise cannot be reached.

“We don’t want to leave, but we’re doomed right now,” said Sergio Flores, president of Cazadores Mexican Restaurant located at 1350 E. Second St. (Ohio 73) between Conover and Eastlawn drives. “We understand the issues of safety and it is important to us, but our weekends are down 20 percent and we just can’t do that.”

Flores and others are concerned that the removal of the left turn lanes is forcing customers to go out of the way to get to their establishment.

“We’re going to have another empty building and it will have less value because of the barrier,” said Ken Johnson, owner of several properties in the area including Cazadores. “No one will want that. For a place that is supposed to be business-friendly, you’ve taken the friendly out of it.”

Franklin’s 2009 Comprehensive Plan states the city’s vision for the Ohio 73 corridor is to relieve increased traffic congestion by providing safe and efficient traffic flow. It also states the fact that there was no median at the time promoted a high number of uncoordinated left turns which created additional congestion and an increase in traffic accidents.

Traffic statistics from 2007, which were used in the comprehensive plan, indicate there were 51 accidents on Ohio 73 between Deardoff Road and I-75.

“When we did the discussions on this we were having trouble moving traffic in that area,” City Manager Sonny Lewis said. “It is a serious matter and we’re going to look at it seriously.”

“If there is a way to do this and not hurt business, we’re all for it,” Councilman Denny Centers said. “But the barrels have just been removed, so let’s wait for 60 days and see how it goes.”

Mayor Scott Lipps said the city will restripe a U-turn that is currently in place as soon as possible and will bring the issue back to a future planning commission meeting for more discussion.