By Erica Solvig
The Cincinnati Enquirer

After concerns that a widening project for U.S. 22/Ohio 3 might be on hold because of funding, it looks like construction could start on time after all.

The state's Transportation Review Advisory Council earlier this month allocated $5.2 million toward the $59 million project for the thoroughfare commonly known as Montgomery Road. It was part of a draft list of $3.7 billion worth of statewide highway projects.

But apparently there was some confusion over what was being requested. Now, TRAC officials say they are committed to the project and are willing to give it additional funding.

"When we looked at the original application, we funded what we thought they were asking for. We didn't realize they were asking for construction funding as well," TRAC spokeswoman Melissa Cook said Monday. "It was just a misunderstanding on our part."

TRAC is an independent board that weighs major road construction requests and decides, on behalf of the Ohio Department of Transportation, which ones will be funded.

Since the preliminary list was announced Dec. 9 and the 90-day comment period started, state Sen. Robert Schuler and state Rep. Tom Raga have been trying to clear up the matter.

Exactly how much money will be given to the project, which includes interchange improvements at Interstate 275, will not be set until TRAC releases the final list of statewide highway projects in March or April 2004.

Montgomery Road, which carries about 30,000 vehicles a day, ranks high on safety and congestion lists, Cook said.

During the three-phase construction project, with work to start in 2005, the two-lane road will be expanded from the Montgomery corporation limits to Old 3C Highway. Most parts will be widened to five lanes, although other parts will be two or three lanes with turn lanes at key intersections.

"We're very excited to hear that we're apparently back on track," Warren County Engineer Neil Tunison said. "I wouldn't say its official, but I feel pretty good about it."

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E-mail esolvig@enquirer.com