LEBANON — It's that time of year when roads turn into orange-dotted obstacle courses, and roads in booming Warren County will be among the most problematic.

        The Ohio Department of Transportation began work last week rebuilding two miles of Lebanon's Main Street — a major artery that dissects downtown.

        The first phase, to last about six months, will take place just west of the Ohio 48 Bypass. Two-way traffic will largely be maintained, officials say.

        “I don't think this stage will affect me as much as it will down the road,” said Craig Knox, owner of Bartoni's Pizzeria.

        He fears that when work moves west on Main toward his restaurant, “there will be a lot of people who just don't feel like fighting the hassle.”

        The $11.5 million Main Street project is the costliest in the county, but it's far from the only one that will slow up county residents, workers and visitors.

        Also on engineers' drawing boards for this summer:

        • The intersection of Western Row and Snider roads will be improved. The county engineer's office will rebuild a bridge and Mason will widen Western Row from two lanes to four on either side of Snider, Mason Engineer Richard Fair said.

        • The intersection of Butler-Warren and Bethany roads, in southwestern Warren, will be improved and a traffic light added.

        • The intersection of Bethany Road and Ohio 741 in Mason.

        • A small bridge on Hamilton Road near Ohio 741 in Turtlecreek Township will be replaced, closing Hamilton for three to seven weeks.

        • The intersection of Stubbs Mill and Shawhan roads in Union Township will undergo an extensive realignment that will shut it down for about four months.

        • Ohio 73 in Clearcreek Township will close 60 days as ODOT replaces a bridge near Bunnell Hill Road.

        • Less than a mile of Deerfield Road in Lebanon — between East and Park avenues — will go under the knife.

        Still undecided is whether the county will rebuild the intersection of Columbia and Socialville-Fosters roads in Deerfield Township.

        County Engineer Neil Tunison planned to add a turn lane there, but residents worry it might promote traffic.

Many Catholics demand disclosure
Cardinal: New solution sought
Cleveland bishop calls for prayer and fidelity
Men say church knew of sex abuse decades ago
Landlords angered by mini-riot damage
Oxford grads take prizes
Warren Co. roads taking on orange hue
Woman leaps out of moving vehicle
BRONSON: Death row
CROWLEY: Erpenbeck gossip has sad undertone
Some Good News
You Asked For It
Authorities concerned about rise in dogfighting
Boone looks to its past
Both parties court growing new bloc of Hispanic voters
City's 'just a few prayers' from healing
Domestic violence funds pulled
Indiana 'warriors' slammed
Mine-safety system has mixed reviews
Money worries clog sewer project
Renovation gives police more space
School-funding report author sues
Tot has just cuts, bruises in 30-foot fall
Traficant skipping primary
Walk circle, seek self
Kentucky A.M. report
Tristate A.M. report