Friday, January 29, 1999
Dual pain for drivers on Dixie
Interstate 75, U.S. highway work coincide
BY CINDY SCHROEDER
The Cincinnati Enquirer
LAKESIDE PARK — As if the recent pothole repairs weren't enough, construction crews are now stopping traffic at one of Dixie Highway's busiest intersections.
Workers from Spartan Construction of Hebron recently began taking down trees and moving utilities, as part of a $1.66 million widening of Dixie Highway between Belle Monte Avenue and the Lakeside Presbyterian Church.
Dixie Highway through Lakeside Park does triple duty as U.S. Highways 25, 42 and 127.
“People are calling to complain — "First I had to be slowed down on (Interstate) 75 (for pothole repairs), and now I have to be slowed down on Dixie,'” said Fred Anderson, Lakeside Park/Crestview Hills police chief. “It's tough, but (the workers) are doing the best they can. This project was long overdue.”
While the improvements were not scheduled to begin until April, construction crews decided to take advantage of recent good weather to do some preliminary work, said Charlie Meyers, construction manager for the Kentucky Department of Transportation's Northern Kentucky office.
Workers recently demolished two houses, near the intersection of Dixie and Belle Monte, that would have lost most of their yards to the newly widened Dixie Highway, Mr. Meyers said. Crews also have been removing large trees at the intersection of Turkeyfoot Road and Dixie Highway, and moving utilities.
The construction schedule calls for work to be finished in 85 working days, or by August, Mr. Meyers said.
When finished, the 0.3-mile stretch of Dixie Highway will be four lanes, and a high-accident intersection near Barleycorn's restaurant will have more turn lanes.
Mr. Meyers said the project is designed to improve traffic flow. With the additional turn lanes, Dixie Highway's through traffic shouldn't get trapped behind vehicles turning onto Turkeyfoot Road or Hudson Avenue.
“During the last five years, the traffic volume has increased tremendously in that area,” Chief Anderson said.
This fall, the state plans to widen Buttermilk Pike from the post office to Dixie Highway, Mr. Meyers said. However, that project will not begin until after crews have finished widening Dixie Highway.
“Thank goodness,” said Lakeside Park Clerk Wanda Wahl. “If they did both at once, nobody would be able to visit Lakeside Park.”
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