Butler County Engineer
Greg Wilkens reports that improvements at Union Centre Boulevard
and Muhlhauser Road in West Chester Township are slated to begin
next week. The $1.6 million project will improve traffic flow
in the growing Union Centre area by increasing lane capacity
and upgrading the signals.
Specifically, plans
call for additional turn lanes at the intersection, the addition
of an eastbound lane on Union Centre from Floer Drive to I-75,
new mast arm signals, updated highway signage, and drainage improvements.
All four corners will also be made more pedestrian friendly with
beautification features such as landscaping and brick pavers.
West Chester Township
is funding 100 percent of the project through its Tax Increment
Financing (TIF) program. A construction contract was awarded
to Sunesis Construction of West Chester Township which submitted
a low bid of $1,608,130. The Butler County Engineer's Office
was responsible for design and engineering and will oversee construction.
Wilkens said that the
project should take about five months to complete, weather permitting:
"Motorists will first notice utility crews at work but full
road construction will begin in earnest after Memorial Day. The
good news is there should be little if any disruption of traffic
throughout the course of this project, which will wrap up this
fall."
Traffic
Maintained
No road closures are
scheduled; however, there may be some lane closures that would
occur during restricted hours only. Wilkens acknowledged that
with nearby Cincinnati Dayton Road closed for major upgrades,
traffic detouring over Union Centre and Muhlhauser Road poses
a challenge to motorists as well as construction crews. "Everything
possible will be done to keep traffic flowing and congestion
to a minimum," he said. "But there is no question that
this is already a very busy construction season in southeast
Butler County. Motorists can help by taking alternate routes
and businesses may want to consider staggering their hours."
Nearby Intersections
to Receive New Signals
A separate contract
to upgrade signals at other nearby intersections will also help
facilitate better traffic flow in the Union Centre area. Existing
signals are currently being upgraded at Muhlhauser Road and Centre
Pointe Drive as well as at Union Centre Boulevard and Civic Centre
Boulevard. Additionally, the intersection at Muhlhauser and Floer/Schulze
Drive is being signalized as part of the $403,552 contract, which
will also be funded through a West Chester Township TIF. BCEO
traffic engineers designed the new signals and are managing their
installation.
- # # #
For more information
contact:
Chris
Petrocy, BCEO Public Information Supervisor
Greg Wilkens, P.E., P.S.,
Butler County Engineer
Phone 513.867.5744 • Fax 513.867.5849
