WEST CHESTER TWP. — A key road link will open this week, easing commuters' drive through Butler County's boom community.

        Beginning Thursday afternoon, Union Centre Boulevard will be connected and opened to Ohio 747, allowing drivers in West Chester Township another direct access from that busy road to Interstate 75.

        Morning and afternoon rush hour, combined with road-widening construction, has created gridlock traffic along 747. But officials from the Butler County Transportation Improvement District (TID) say driving problems soon will be eased.

        “It's very bad at times,” said Mike Samoviski, TID chairman and director of public works for the city of Hamilton. “This will certainly improve traffic flow and access to businesses that are rapidly developing there.

        “It will get some of the traffic off 747 and give us another east-west transportation link through the area. We're very happy ... this brings us closer to completing our transportation network in southeastern Butler County,” he said.

        Union Centre Boulevard, which will soon link the western edge of West Chester to I-75, is the westward extension of a key highway interchange that has boosted the township into the fastest growing community in Butler County.

        A Bigg's store is under construction at the new Union Centre Boulevard/747 intersection.

        Township Administrator David Gully welcomed the new link, saying it will also relieve crowding on nearby roads.

        “It's going take a lot of cars off of Beckett Road ... and it will daily improve the speed and access to I-75.”

        TID officials also announced that sections of nearby West Chester Road will be closed beginning to day through Dec. 4.

        The county will eventually widen West Chester Road from Beckett Road east to where it begins to cross over Interstate 75.

        West Chester Road will be widened from two lanes to four and will be closed between Muhlhauser Road and the new Centre Pointe Drive leading into the Centre Pointe Executive Building complex.

        West Chester Road will also be closed from Union Centre Boulevard east to the 5900 Building off West Chester Road.

        The West Chester and Union Centre Boulevard intersection will be unaffected but the Lakota West High School entrance just east of the intersection will be closed through Dec. 4. The school's other West Chester Road entrance will not be affected.

Abortion foes form human chain
Results of our news poll
Two Miami students busted with half-kilo of cocaine
School themes hit home with Tristate voters
What the candidates propose
Special interests dominate Ohio Supreme Court race
Feds: Don't fret over nuke list
Tristate sites linked to nuclear weapons program
West Chester welcomes new link to I-75
SAMPLES: Wal-Mart dwarfs neighborhood
Warren Co. key in 'tricky district'
East Bridge to Cinergy Field closes
United Way at 29 percent of goal
Beasts go home blessed
Blue Ash sponsors photo contest
Dayton airport plan on hold
Groups team up to promote art
Local Digest
Schools plan for expansion