Butler County Engineer
Greg Wilkens reports that full construction of the Port Union
Road upgrade is slated to begin next week. The road will be widened
to three lanes -- one in each direction plus a center turning
lane -- between the Fairfield City line and Ohio 747 in West
Chester Township. The project also calls for a hill to be cut
down for better visibility, a bridge replacement, improved alignment,
and adding wider berms. "The result will be smoother, safer
traffic flow," Wilkens said.
A contract was awarded
to Don S. Cisle Contractor, Inc. of Hamilton which submitted
a low bid of $1,741,727. A combination of State Issue 2 grant
money, Butler County, and West Chester Township funds will be
utilized to pay for the project.
Motorists may have
already noticed utility crews relocating gas, electric, and telephone
lines since January in preparation for actual construction. "Cincinnati
Bell and Cinergy have had a substantial amount of relocation
work with this project," Wilkens noted. "Their cooperation
has been a big part of our ongoing success with large projects
such as this." Water main relocations will be performed
as part of the construction contract.
Closures
In Effect For Six Months
Port Union Road will
close to thru traffic between Seward Road and Ohio 747 beginning
Monday, March 18, 2002. Two separate but concurrent closures
will be necessary during construction. The portion west of LeSaint
Drive will close first (phase 1). This will eventually be expanded
to include east of LeSaint for the remainder of the project.
Closures will be in effect through late September 2002 when the
project is scheduled for completion. Access to local businesses
will be maintained at all times.
(9/27/02
-- The road will reopen in early October 2002 due to phone line
relocation delays by Cincinnati Bell. Work on the project will
continue through the winter. During this final construction phase,
the road will remain open with two lanes and temporary striping
until the project is completed next spring.)
During phase 1, eastbound
traffic will detour south and east on Thunderbird Lane and north
on LeSaint Drive back to Port Union Road. Westbound traffic will
reverse this route.
The phase 2 closure
will require eastbound traffic to detour south and east on Thunderbird
Lane, south on LeSaint Drive, east on Muhlhauser Road, and north
on Ohio 747 to Port Union. Westbound traffic will reverse this
route.
Motorists are encouraged
to check the Road Closings
page on the BCEO web site as the best source for possible date
and status changes concerning these closures.
