FAIRFIELD - Hundreds of industrial-zoned acres in Fairfield and West Chester Township will open for development once the long-awaited Symmes Road extension is completed.

        The Butler County Transportation Improvement District took a major step Monday when it awarded a $7.1 million contract for the project to the John R. Jurgensen Co.

        Site work on the four-lane road is expected to begin in the next few weeks with construction to start in March, said Sean Fraunfelter, TID's director of finance.

        About $182,000 has been set aside to buy property needed for the project and another $178,000 is set aside to move utilities. About 21 acres is being donated by Larry Schumacher of Schumacher Dugan Construction in West Chester.

        “We'll all benefit from this,” said TID board member and Fairfield resident Wendell Judd. "Once it's completed. it will take just minutes from the Ohio 4/Symmes Road intersection to I-75.”

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