FAIRFIELD — A long-waited gateway connecting Fairfield's industrial center with Interstate 75 through West Chester Township is expected to open Dec. 10

        The $8 million extension of Union Centre Boulevard from Ohio 747 west to Seward Road “will provide access to Interstate 75 and open up a large area (of Fairfield) for development,” Fairfield City Engineer Jim Turner said.

        Judith Carter, assistant West Chester Township administrator, said the extension of Union Centre also opens up significant industrial opportunities in the township's already fast-developing commercial and industrial valley west of the interchange.

        Much of the new four-lane road's right of way was donated by developers who own it and see is as vital to growth, officials said.

        Fairfield is footing the largest financial contribution to the project with $5 million, with another $2 million coming from Butler County and $1 million from West Chester Township.

        The road will be called Union Centre Boulevard from Ohio 747 to Seward Road where it will meet Symmes Road. which is being widened to four lanes to maintain increased traffic flow from Seward Road to Ohio Bypass 4, Mr. Turner said.

        The $1.3 million Symmes Road widening involves land in Fairfield and Hamilton. Fairfield will pay $884,000 and Hamilton $416,000 for that project.

        The Butler County Transportation Improvement District (TID) is coordinating the project.

        The TID is a local agency formed in 1994 to facilitate road-improvement projects, including the Michael A. Fox Highway (Ohio 129) connecting Hamilton to I-75. Other TID projects include the Union Centre Boulevard interchange with I-75, the widening and extension of Muhlhauser Road, and widening Ohio 747.

        The TID board consists of representatives from Hamilton, Fairfield, Butler County, and West Chester, Liberty and Fairfield townships.

Tristate pays homage to vets
Veterans Day events
Veterans Day closings
RADEL: A Veterans Day view of America
Council gets a dash of Pepper
Newcomer has ideas to make council better
Preacher in jail on drug charges
CPS language school to open
First meeting on race yields plans
UC faculty seek more than cash in new contract
Blue Ash to add $4.8M fire station
Boehner does a balancing act
Fairview Heights man shot to death in store
Good News: Local charity picking up
Lebanon service to honor fallen heroes, donation efforts
Local Digest
Murder suspect held
Road extension to open Dec. 10
Rumpke cleans up all night
School keeps Bahamas plans
You Asked For It
Congrats
Social workers on edge
Study: Ohio has most racist groups
Auctioneer chant fades into murmur
Budget cuts curtail halfway house expansion
Campbell rechecking addresses
Ky. Baptists' neutrality up for vote
Scaled-back Kentucky tobacco auctions begin this week