Eastern Corridor
work continues with improvements to SR 32
ODOT
identifies plan for SR 32 following
comprehensive
public involvement process
LEBANON (Sept. 3, 2014) – A
portion of one of Ohio’s most important corridors for commerce and travel – the
State Route 32 roadway – will receive another major facelift the Ohio
Department of Transportation (ODOT) announced today. The result of significant
public involvement and study, ODOT has identified plans for improvements to be
made on SR 32 between Eastgate Boulevard and Olive Branch-Stonelick Road.
The “preferred
alternative” (a term that denotes the conclusion of a federally-mandated study
process)
will add to the improvement work already taking place in and around the
Eastgate area
to ease
congestion, improve safety and provide the infrastructure necessary for further
economic
development and investment in the area.
The
project, also known as Segment IVa of the Eastern Corridor Program, was
developed to better
support
increasing levels of traffic, reduce congestion and improve roadway safety.
Elements of
the preferred alternative include:
·
Widening SR 32 by adding a travel lane in each
direction
·
Removing
traffic signals and closing local access between Eastgate Boulevard and Olive
Branch-Stonelick Road
·
Providing
a new westbound exit from SR 32 to Glen Este-Withamsville Road and an eastbound
exit to Clepper Lane
·
Constructing
a new bridge to allow Glen Este-Withamsville Road to travel over SR 32
·
Extending
Clepper Lane east to Bach Buxton
·
Constructing
a new interchange near Elick Lane/Bach Buxton Road which includes a bridge over
SR 32
·
Constructing
a new bridge to allow Old SR 74 to travel over SR 32
·
Making
additional local roadway network improvements to better connect Old SR 74, Glen
Este-Withamsville Road and Clepper Lane with SR 32
Transportation
planners selected these improvements following a comprehensive alternative
evaluation process that looked at multiple options and included preliminary
engineering, environmental studies, extensive coordination with the Clermont
County Engineer’s Office, and three public involvement meetings. Selection
factors considered how well the various options met project goals,
functionality, potential impacts, construction costs and input from area
residents and businesses.
“We’re
excited that we’ve reached this important milestone in the work to improve
travel along SR 32, which is widely-recognized as an important artery for
east-west travel in the region,” said Jay Hamilton, project manager for ODOT’s
District 8 office. “This work is an important component of the work already
taking place on SR 32 at the I-275 interchange in the Eastgate area, and will
improve connectivity for the tens of thousands of motorists who travel through
this area daily.”
Hamilton
also emphasized the role of public involvement in the planning process, noting
that three public involvement meetings were held to provide community members,
local property owners and businesses with the opportunity to provide feedback
on the multiple alternatives that were under consideration during the study
process. “We are very confident that the solution we’ve identified will meet
the needs of the local community and provide the infrastructure needed to
support the significant flow of people, goods and services that moves through
this area,” said Hamilton.
Clermont
County Engineer Pat Manger echoed Hamilton’s enthusiasm and reiterated the
benefit that the
SR 32 improvement work brings to the entire region, stating, “The improvements
being made in the Eastgate area represent a series of planned, phased,
integrated improvements that will make travel through this area safer, quicker
and more efficient.”
Manger
continued, “The Eastern Corridor transportation improvements provide the
foundation for economic development and investment by creating better access
and connectivity for employers and the employment base that supports our
regional economy. The Clermont County Transportation Improvement District
(CCTID) is proud to be an implementation partner of the Eastern Corridor
Program and we look forward to working with ODOT on the SR 32 improvement work
in the months to come.”
During
upcoming months, ODOT will be preparing detailed designs, coordinating with
resource agencies and obtaining the necessary environmental clearances for the
project. In addition, ODOT and the Clermont County Transportation Improvement
District are currently exploring funding options for related project
components.
To date, the
CCTID has received funds from the Ohio-Kentucky-Indiana Regional Council of
Governments (OKI) to construct the Clepper Lane extension, and improvements on
Old SR 74 from Schoolhouse Road to Glen Este-Withamsville Road. This work will
improve access in the area as well as to and from SR 32. Construction on
these project elements will begin in the summer of 2018.