Sun staff
The public is invited to give comments on the state Route 32 Eastgate Area Improvement Study during the Ohio Department of Transportation’s public open house on June 9.
Staff from ODOT, the Clermont County engineers office and TranSystems will be on hand to discuss the study, listen to comments and answer questions, according to the Clermont County Transportation Improvement District website,
This the last formal opportunity for the public to make comments on the study before the plan is finalized and construction starts in 2019, said Sharon Smigelski, public information officer for ODOT.
A preferred alternative for the state Route 32 improvements between Eastgate Boulevard and Olive Branch-Stonelick Road was selected after the last round of public involvement in the summer of 2014, according to the TID website.
The preferred alternative aims to ease congestion, improve safety and provide the infrastructure necessary for further economic development and investment in the Eastgate area.
According to Smigelski, improvements are outlined as:
• Widening state Route 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 state Route 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 state Route 32
• Extending Clepper Lane east to Bach Buxton Road
• Constructing a new interchange near Elick Lane/Bach Buxton Road which includes a bridge over state Route 32
• Constructing a new bridge to allow Old state Route 74 to travel over state Route 32
• Making additional local roadway network improvements to better connect Old state Route 74, Glen Este-Withamsville Road and Clepper Lane with state Route 32
Smigelski said that the improvements to state Route 32 are managed by ODOT, and the remaining improvements to local roads are managed by Clermont County.
While the county-managed projects are set to begin construction in 2019, ODOT does not yet have funding for the right-of-way or for widening state Route 32, she added.
The June 9 meeting will look at all aspects of the project, regardless of funding capabilities.
The open house will be held from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Union Township Civic Center at 4350 Aicholtz Road.