Monday, April 03, 2000
Mason prepares road projects
$7.5M plan begins this month
BY KEVIN ALDRIDGE
The Cincinnati Enquirer
MASON — Now that you've set your clocks ahead an hour, it might also be time to set your alarm back and start plotting detour routes, if you commute through Mason.
Starting in mid-April, Mason and the Ohio Department of Transportation will begin one of the city's biggest road projects in recent years. Crews will repave and widen Tylersville, Stitt and Western Row roads to four lanes, with a fifth lane for turning at each intersection.
The $7.5 million project, largely state-funded, will include bike paths, sidewalks, landscaped medians and additional traffic signals. It is scheduled for completion by the end of 2001.
While motorists can expect some delays and road closings, city officials are asking drivers to keep the slowdowns in perspective rather than paint a chaotic picture of bumper-to-bumper traffic.
“The slowdowns and detours will be a relatively small price to pay for the improved traffic flow and access these projects will produce,” said Assistant City Manager Eric Hansen.
Mason leaders have published a newsletter called Detour Times, highlighting the city's various construction projects.
“We are going to great lengths to make sure that all of our residents are aware of when and where construction is taking place,” Mr. Hansen said. “In the past, the city has been able to avoid a lot of the confusion by giving people advanced notice so they can adjust their travel plans accordingly.”
Along with Detour Times, residents can dial the city's 24-hour road construction hot-line to get weekly updates on road projects. Mr. Hansen said a public meeting will be held April 19 at 7:30 a.m. in the Courseview Pavilion at the Golf Center at Kings Island to give residents and businesses a chance to voice their questions and concerns about the construction.
A widening is under way on Interstate 71 between Western Row Road and Interstate 275, aimed at easing the heavily congested area near Paramount's Kings Island.
The project, which should wrap up by the end of this year, will add a fourth lane.
Meanwhile, ODOT resumes work on a bridge-widening project on U.S. 42 just north of Tylersville Road. Work could be completed by June. The project will double the number of lanes on the road to four.
Work to reduce bottlenecks on a portion of Mason-Montgomery Road near the I&O Bridge is expected to finish May 31. The $2.2 million project involves widening Mason-Montgomery Road to three lanes, replacing the railroad overpass bridge and lowering the road to provide more clearance under the bridge.
City officials who have struggled with the project over the winter say it is now more than 90 percent complete.
In another project, officials are spending $20,000 to correct a sight distance problem on Bethany Road near the Windemere subdivision.
Crews will remove a hump that makes it difficult to see approaching traffic and lower another portion of the road by three feet. Construction on Bethany Road will begin only after the completion of the I&O Bridge project.
Work is expected to begin on the city's street resurfacing and maintenance program in May and continue for about 120 days.
Officials say several streets are scheduled only for base repair and crack sealing. Access will be maintained for residents during work.
For construction information call: 573-1828.
Mixed reviews for fiber-optic network
Murder defense to focus on memo
Tunes clog university computers
Hamilton County ads attract prospective foster parents
Hardware for late-night repair
Kenton residents want parks nearby
Mason prepares road projects
USA cable might bench Schott bio
Another Lucas takes office
Area police proud of accreditation
Ceremony filled with emotion
Overhaul expected for schools
Program to draw viewers to workplace
Proposal would mandate 'cybermolester' jail time
Wyclef Jean has fun amid chaos
GET TO IT
TRISTATE DIGEST
