By Jennifer Edwards
The Cincinnati Enquirer

Traffic flows now that work is finishing on Cincinnati-Dayton Road in West Chester. (Michael Snyder photos) | ZOOM |

WEST CHESTER TWP. - As one road project wreaks havoc on one of the Tristate's most congested arteries here, another area known for gridlock is finally getting some relief.

Construction is wrapping up along Cincinnati-Dayton Road, which was expanded from two lanes to five for a mile from Interstate 75 to Maud-Hughes Road.

The $11 million project began in spring 2001 and originally was scheduled to be complete in August. But it was delayed until this month because of holdups on utility and other infrastructure installations, Ohio Department of Transportation officials and West Chester merchants said.

The Southeastern Butler County Chamber of Commerce urged an ODOT official to complete the project before the end of the year because small businesses were struggling, and the important holiday season was near.

Cox Road is still tied up by crews widening the road for a turn lane at the intersection with Tylersville Road. | ZOOM |

All that remains to be done along the road are some final pavement markings and beautification work, said Dick Dole, an ODOT transportation manager.

Several business operators said they lost about half of their business during construction, and many fear they may never completely return to previous revenues. One frustrated shop owner moved to Liberty Township.

"All of this road construction should have been done 15, 20 years ago," complained Mike Anagnostou, owner of Thornapple Book and Wine, just south of the Cincinnati-Dayton Road and Tylersville Road intersection. "But I tell you something. I would not wish road construction on my worst enemy. My business was down 40 percent last year. I am just glad it's over."

TRISTATE PROJECTS

Interstate 75 will be widened from six lanes to eight between Tylersville Road in West Chester Township and Kemper Road in Sharonville starting in March. Construction is expected to be completed in April 2005. The Butler County Transportation Improvement District is applying for regional transportation improvement funding to widen two roads: Ohio 747 and Ohio Bypass 4. Ohio 747 would be widened from two to five lanes from Tylersville Road in West Chester to Princeton Road in Liberty Township. Bypass 4 would be widened in two phases from Symmes Road to the Fox Highway. If funding doesn't come through, county officials say they will pursue alternatives to pay for the roads. For almost a year, drivers along Interstate 275 in eastern Hamilton County and western Clermont County have waded through a construction zone of about 20 miles. But all traffic lanes between U.S. 42 to just south of the Clermont-Hamilton county line remain open as the Ohio Department of Transportation continues the $110 million project that should bring extra lanes and improvements by next year. Nightly lane closures occasionally happen but are not scheduled in the immediate future.

The widened road is expected to spur development in the area, especially at the I-75 interchange, where a strip center and restaurant are expected near Frisch's and a major retail store on 25 acres is anticipated for the northwest corner.

Meanwhile, things aren't as rosy on traffic-clogged Tylersville Road, one of the worst congested arteries in the Tristate. The intersection of Tylersville and Cox Road is being expanded on the north side as a nearly $5 million project to widen Cox is ending.

Originally planned to be done by the end of the month, the project now won't be done until probably Christmas, Butler County Engineer Greg Wilkens said Thursday.

Cox Road is being widened from two to five lanes as commercial development burgeons adjacent to I-75. Major projects include a 500,000-square-foot Target shopping center that will open in July, and the $100 million medical campus, University Pointe, from University of Cincinnati Physicians.

The Cox Road widening will provide some relief to Tylersville, which is receiving a 500-foot-long turn lane on the north side of the intersection. But Mr. Wilkens concedes the area's tremendous growth will have the road jammed again before long.

"I don't even want to think what Tylersville will be like in a couple of years," Mr. Anagnostou said. "It's congested now and with all the new stores, it's only going to get worse. But it's five lanes wide now. How much more can you widen a road? It's ridiculous."

E-mail jedwards@enquirer.com.