BY ANNE MICHAUD
The Cincinnati Enquirer
A Hamilton County plan to extend Ronald Reagan Highway west met with its first opposition on Thursday, as a Crosby Township trustee said she believes residents will reject it.
"I understand that this is the future, but I'd like to put it off as long as we can," said Melba Guard, the trustee.
Chief Deputy County Engineer Ted Hubbard said most other communities have reacted positively, and he wants a chance to sit down with Crosby Township Trustees and residents. A meeting is scheduled for Monday, Oct. 26 at the trustees' office.
County Engineer Bill Brayshaw wrote to the Ohio Department of Transportation last week, requesting the state designate Blue Rock Road and New Haven Road as western extensions of the highway. That would take the road from Colerain Township west to Interstate 74 in Harrison.
The engineer's office suggests adding a third, turning lane at parts of Blue Rock and New Haven roads. Some curves would be straightened within the existing right-of-way, Mr. Hubbard said.
In addition, as developers build along the route, they would be required to add a lane in many cases. Eventually, the route would become four through lanes almost entirely.
"We're going to get traffic there, whether we like it or not," Mr. Hubbard said. "It's the development that brings the traffic, not the road."
