QUESTION: What government agency is responsible for maintaining U.S. 50 (River Road) between North Bend and Elizabethtown? Why are the median, curbs and walls filthy with trash, road kill, and eroding concrete that has not been cleaned up for months?
       Carl W. Rosskopf
       North Bend

        ANSWER: The state is responsible for maintaining state and federal highways, said Kim Patton, spokeswoman for the Ohio Department of Transportation. Crews cleaned this area a few weeks ago. However, this stretch of road is difficult to maintain because debris accumulates quickly. A road improvement project from Elizabethtown to Cleves is being designed and will be under construction in 2006. ODOT also is looking to see if funding will be available to remove the crumbled concrete median in 2003. Another project — improving U.S. 50 between Cleves and Cincinnati — will be awarded to a contractor in August. This project will include resurfacing, adding some left turn lanes, and replacing the median curb, Mrs. Patton said.

        Q: When exiting Interstate 275 east onto Wards Corner Road, there are two right turn lanes and one left turn lane. Since most traffic turns left, wouldn't it make better sense to have two left turn lanes and one right turn lane?
       Rick Sliter
       Miami Township

        A: Mrs. Patton said lane markings will change to provide for a left turn only lane, a middle lane that can be used for left or right turns, and a right turn only lane. These changes will be added to the construction work on I-275 from Montgomery Road to U.S. 50. That project is scheduled for completion in summer, 2003.

        Q: When workers finished repaving and widening Crescentville Road in Sharonville, they left the railroad crossing in rough condition. Does Sharonville plan to fix this crossing soon?
       Christy Kellner
       Sharonville

        A: The repair and maintenance of railroad crossings is the sole responsibility of the railroad, in this case Norfolk Southern. Christine Thompson, assistant to the mayor of Sharonville, said the city has some additional widening project work to complete on Crescentville this year. Railroad officials have said the crossing will be improved this spring.

        You Asked For It, which runs on Mondays, answers questions about regional history, government, schools and roads. Call 381-2800 and enter 2002. Fax 755-4150. E-mail wschaefer@enquirer.com. Mail The Cincinnati Enquirer, 7700 Service Center Drive, West Chester, OH 45069. Include name, neighborhood and phone.

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