By Steve Kemme
The Cincinnati Enquirer

HAMILTON - The proposed 10-mile extension of Ohio 63 into north-central Butler County is close to death, but isn't quite ready for burial.

The state is reviewing the project's environmental impact statement and is reserving $27.7 million for the project.

But it will cost at least $91 million, and the county has no idea how it might obtain the $63 million needed to close the gap.

"It's going to take the divine intervention of God," Butler County Commissioner Mike Fox said with a laugh. "But I never say never."

A year ago, the future of this road project looked much rosier. By a 2-1 vote, the county commissioners approved a half-percent sales tax increase that would have generated the money needed for the project.

But a successful referendum effort by opponents of the tax increase pushed the commissioners into repealing the tax increase in January. That placed the Ohio 63 extension on life support.

Almost 11 months have passed since the repeal, and no new funding sources have materialized.

But county officials are reluctant to kill the project because the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) supports it and has agreed to hold the $27.7 million in state money until 2005 - and the county has spent about $2 million in preliminary work.

The project would extend Ohio 63 from near Salzman Road in Monroe to U.S. 127, north of Seven Mile.

County officials say the extension would relieve traffic congestion in the growing Trenton-Monroe area and would stimulate economic development while serving Miller Brewing Co.'s facility and other industries already in the area.

ODOT has directed that the eastern half of the extension - from Salzman Road to Wayne-Madison Road - be built before the western half.

But without an infusion of big money, nothing will be built.

Mr. Fox said ODOT has been supportive of the project. But the critical missing ingredient, he said, is the willingness of businesses and communities that would benefit from the Ohio 63 extension to contribute money for it.

He criticized Miller Brewery for failing to put up money for the project.

"I don't understand their behavior," Mr. Fox said. "If they don't care about the project, it's hard for other people to care."

He contrasted the lack of private support for the Ohio 63 extension with the abundance of private support for the development of the Union Centre Boulevard interchange at Interstate 75 in West Chester Township.

"If (developer) Larry Schumacher can reach into his pocket for $6 million (for Union Centre), it's not unreasonable to ask Miller to pay $1 million to buy property to preserve the extension's corridor," Mr. Fox said. "If they're wanting something for nothing, that's not the way you get road projects funded in today's market."

Hillary Johnson, Miller's regional state affairs manager, said the company has worked closely with the governor's office, ODOT and Butler officials to push the project forward.

"We've done everything we can to make this come to reality," she said.

Miller hasn't contributed money to the project, Ms. Johnson said, because it's waiting for final project designs and for an indication of exactly how much money will be needed for the project after the new state budget is set.

Commissioner Courtney Combs defended Miller Brewery, saying the company has been a good corporate citizen and has lobbied hard for the project.