BY JANET C. WETZEL
The Cincinnati Enquirer
MIDDLETOWN — Nearly $6 million in road and sewer projects planned next year for the city's bustling east end will open the door to development of prime land in that area and improve traffic flow.
They are part of a mixed bag of citywide capital improvement projects included in the $76.2 million, 1999 combined operating and capital budget. Commissioners are expected to approve it today. The budget includes about $5.75 million for east-end work, plus about $1.5 million for other road improvements; about $80,000 for an extra police officer and additional police department overtime, and an extra $650,000 for fire equipment, said Susan Davis, assistant city manager.
Much of the east-end infrastructure improvements will be in the recently annexed section of the city near Towne Mall and Middletown Crossings, and east of Interstate 75, said Andy Braun, city engineer.
“We think this area is really a key to the economic future of Middletown,” Mr. Braun said. “It took some time to work our way out to the I-75 corridor, but it's an important link.”
The city will work with surrounding property owners to phase in infrastructure improvements to meet the demands for development. “We also need to do it in a way we can afford,” he said. “There's always a struggle on where to spend city resources.”
Research indicates that work in the east end will not only pay for itself, but also boost city coffers.
Much of the area near I-75 has been untouched and is a prime area for development, but infrastructure improvements are needed before that will happen, Mr. Braun said.
“I-75 is the high growth corridor for the state of Ohio, and particularly in southwestern Ohio,” Ms. Davis said. “However, putting in a sewer is a major infrastructure cost and developers usually don't want to bear that cost on the front end. It's very typical that once major infrastructure is put in place, development follows.” ends about halfway between Hendrickson Road and Ohio 122, west of I-75, will be extended to the intersection of Ohio 122 and I-75 to eliminate a sewer lift station in the area, Mr. Braun said.
That will cost about $350,000, plus an extra $400,000 to run the sewer under I-75, and $300,000 to run it from there to the intersection of Ohio 122 and Union Road. Construction also will start next year on the $3.2 million Towne Boulevard extension west of I-75. Funding will come from State Capital Improvement Program, property assessments and city funds.
Also on the agenda for next year are road projects to help alleviate the gridlock motorists often face at Towne Mall and Middletown Crossings.
