Saturday, October 30, 1999
Eastern link of Butler regional highway opens
Liberty gains interstate access
BY DAVID ECK
Enquirer Contributor
LIBERTY TOWNSHIP — The eastern link of the Butler County Regional Highway opened Friday with lots of speeches, a quick ribbon-cutting and a new name for the 11-mile freeway: the Michael A. Fox Highway.
The newly opened section connects Cincinnati-Dayton Road with Interstate 75, giving Liberty Township its first interstate access.
A one-mile stretch at the highway's western end opened earlier this month, and the entire road is scheduled to open in December.
Mr. Fox, now a Butler County commissioner, is widely credited with pushing the highway project for years, and as a state representative helped create the Butler County Transportation Improvement District, which expedited its construction.
“Obviously this is an honor for which I am deeply grateful and indebted to all of those who have worked through the years to make this dream a reality,” Mr. Fox said. “While the highway is critically important to Hamilton, it benefits all of Butler County and will pave the way for creation of thousands of jobs that will make this county an even better place to live, work and raise a family.”
About 100 people attended the dedication ceremony, including several state, county and local officials.
“Without the TID, the highway wouldn't be where it is right now — 92 percent complete and getting ready to open (entirely) in two months,” said Ed Shelton, a TID board member.
“Butler County owes a lot to Mike for getting this project on the front burner after more than 30 years of attempts to build it.”
The TID board of trustees in March voted to rename the regional highway after Mr. Fox.
“When you see something of this magnitude that happens so rarely, it connects all those things that bring people into public service,” said an emotional Mr. Fox.
The highway runs from Hamilton through Fairfield and Liberty townships to I-75. Interchanges on the four-lane, divided highway are at Bypass 4, Ohio 747, Cincinnati-Dayton Road and the highway's connection with I-75.
The $158 million highway should open eight months ahead of schedule.
Liberty Township officials welcomed the road, which is expected to spur commercial development in the mostly residential community. At the Cincinnati-Dayton Road interchange, a handful of businesses have recently opened or are under construction including a grocery store and restaurants.
“It changes the whole face of Liberty Township,” said township Trustee Bob Shelley. “I think how the trustees treat it will be the key. ... it'll give us an opportunity to expand our base and provide better services. We're ready for it.”
Officials in Union Township said they will appreciate the lower traffic burden on secondary roads.
“This is going to be the wave of the future to get things done,” said state Rep. Gary Cates. “If it had not been for the TID we would not be standing here today.”
Waynesville Mayor Charles Sanders, who attended the opening, said there is a lesson here for Warren County officials: work together on road improvements. He is particularly interested in upgrading Ohio 73, a narrow, hilly road between Interstates 71 and 75 in northern Warren County.
“I think Warren County could see the same as Butler County if we would open up the corridor,” he said. “There is opportunity for us to do the exact same thing.”
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