Tammy Campbell, District 8 deputy director for the Ohio Department of Transportation, gives remarks during the opening of the newly constructed flyover and tunnel ramps in Eastgate September 10.

Tammy Campbell, District 8 deputy director for the Ohio Department of Transportation, gives remarks during the opening of the newly constructed flyover and tunnel ramps in Eastgate September 10.
By Megan Alley
Sun staff

The newly constructed flyover and tunnel ramps in Eastgate are now open.

Local officials celebrated the completion of the project with a presentation and ribbon cutting on the southbound ramp on September 10.

“We’re here to celebrate this flyover ramp and the completion of this construction project at [state Route] 32 and [Interstate] 275,” said Tammy Campbell, District 8 deputy director for the Ohio Department of Transportation. “It’s a great accomplishment.”

She added, “This project is the third in a series out here, in the Eastgate Boulevard, [state Route] 32 and [Interstate] 275 interchange. These projects were part of our Eastern Corridor family of projects. They are critical to our infrastructure between Clermont and eastern Hamilton Count[ies] for safe, efficient movement of people.”

Campbell thanked the Clermont County Engineers Office, Clermont County Transportation Improvement District, the Clermont County Commissioners, Ohio-Kentucky-Indiana Regional Council of Governments, John R. Jurgensen Company and project managers Randy Westendorf and Jason Haus, Clermont County resident engineer for the Ohio Department of Transportation.

The $32 million dollar project was completed without any claims filed, or a disagreement between the contractor and ODOT that could result in a change order, according to Campbell.

“I give them a lot of credit for having this job run so smoothly,” Campbell said.

Clermont County Commissioner Ed Humphrey said the completed project will be a great addition to the county.

“The county commissioners and the county in general are really thrilled to have this opening and see this as a completion,” Humphrey said. “We know the project will improve safety and throughput.”

He added, “The biggest thing that we see is the cooperation that this showed between ODOT and the Transportation Improvement District. That’s been outstanding.”

Humphrey said he sees the project as a piece of economic development.

“If we improve transportation, we’ll improve economic development in our area, and what that really leads to is jobs and we need jobs out here in Clermont County and beyond,” Humphrey said. “We see this as jobs, and that’s very important.”

Clermont County Engineer Pat Manger echoed Humphrey’s sentiments about cooperation.

“I think this is just a fantastic example of how government should interact at all levels,” Manger said.

He added, “Prior to TID forming, this project was on again, off again. We scheduled various dates, and we never were able to really get this project off the ground. About four years ago, entities at all levels came together to find that final solution, which is often the hard part, the final funding. But, we were able to do that, and this is just a great example of how we really put all the resources we have here in Clermont County together.”

The project is just the first of the Eastern Corridor projects, according to Manger.

“We have a lot of work that’s underway, and a lot more to get accomplished,” Manger explained. “But, I think how we went about achieving this goal for this part of the Eastern Corridor is a great footprint for how we want to continue in the future.”

Ohio-Kentucky-Indiana Regional Council of Governments Chief Executive Officer and Executive Director Mark R. Policinski explained why OKI invested more than $4 million dollars in Interstate 275/state Route 32 interchange projects and about $5.5 million in Eastgate Boulevard.

“Here’s the thing about giving out money. When we invest in a project, we’re investing really in the people and communities that run that project,” Policinski said. “What you have done out here is truly amazing. The time and the cooperation that you’ve exhibited have led to the timely building of a project.”

He added, “This project is going to leverage economic development. We’re proud to put our money here, and we’re so thankful that you allowed us to work with you.”

There is still some work left in the area before crews leave on October 15.

Starting September 14, state Route 32 will be paved and repainted. The road will increase from two lanes to three lanes. Crews will work at night to reduce the construction’s impact on traffic.

Beginning in summer 2016, Interstate 275 will be repaved within the interchange area. The mill and fill project will finalize lane designations after all this year’s construction work. Construction is expected to take about a month, and crews will work at night to reduce the construction’s impact on traffic.