Friday, December 10, 1999
Butler highway to open Monday, 8 months early
Road links Hamilton, I-75
BY DAVID ECK
Enquirer Contributor
HAMILTON — After waiting more than 30 years for a direct link from Hamilton to Interstate 75, Butler County drivers only have to wait one more weekend.
The Michael A. Fox Highway, also known as the Butler Regional Highway, is being dedicated today and the entire 11-mile road is expected to be open by noon Monday. The road cost $158 million and will open eight months ahead of schedule.
“Afternoon (Monday) rush hour, (drivers will) be able to take it,” said Monica Menke-Watts, director of communications of the Butler County Transportation Improvement District. “That doesn't much happen in road construction that you actually open a road that much ahead of schedule.”
Getting the work done so early also will bring a hefty reward to the contractor, Kokosing Construction of Columbus. The company will be paid $4.9 million for various project incentives, including the early finish.
The divided, four-lane highway is expected to handle 35,000 vehicles a day and be an economic development engine for Hamilton and parts of Fairfield and Liberty townships. The highway has interchanges at Bypass 4, Ohio 747, Cincinnati-Dayton Road and its connection with I-75.
“This is an incredible time for all of Butler County,” said Greg Wilkens, TID executive director. “The Michael A. Fox Highway will have a huge impact on traveling patterns around the county. It will save many drivers at least 10-15 minutes, and it will help alleviate much of the traffic congestion on secondary routes. And it also will have a major influence on economic development in the area.”
The opening ceremonies, in a heated tent on the highway at its interchange with Bypass 4, will run 10:30 a.m.-noon. Gov. Bob Taft will be a key speaker.
Construction of the highway began in May 1998, and the road was originally scheduled to open in August 2000.
“It's an absolutely incredible accomplishment, not only for the TID but also for all of Butler County, especially to have it open eight months (early),” Ms. Menke-Watts said. “It certainly was a huge team effort and that made this project such a success.”
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