Business leaders: Traffic near new mall could be hectic

Opening of Cincinnati Premium Outlets, along with Interstate construction, could create travel problems.

Nick Graham/Staff photographer Construction continues on OH-63 near I-75 Wednesday, July 22, 2009 in Monroe, Ohio.

ENLARGE PHOTO

Nick Graham/Staff photographer Construction continues on OH-63 near I-75 Wednesday, July 22, 2009 in Monroe, Ohio.

ENLARGE PHOTO

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By Denise Wilson, Staff Writer Updated 12:59 PM Wednesday, July 29, 2009

MONROE — Motorists may struggle when traveling along Ohio 63 and Interstate 75 near Monroe during the grand opening of a new outlet mall Aug. 6-9, officials said.

Cincinnati Premium Outlets is prepared to welcome thousands of shoppers on the first day, according to Chelsea Property Group officials, who are the developers of the mall near Ohio 63 in Monroe.

Riley Griffiths, the owner of Riley’s Furniture Gallery in Monroe, said the traffic traveling to and from the mall will be hectic during the initial opening.

“Initially, it’ll be crazy so people won’t want to fight the traffic. When the roads get done, it will be wonderful,” he said.

The Ohio Department of Transportation is continuing work on the Single Point Urban Interchange Ramp on Ohio 63 in Monroe and is anticipating completing the project by early 2010.

Work on the SPUI, which began in the spring and is designed to replace the overpass, increase capacity and allow for continuous traffic flow on Ohio 63, is part of ODOT’s $98.8 million Interstate 75 widening and reconstruction project that will run from Cincinnati-Dayton Road in Butler County to the Middletown corporation line in Warren County.

The entire project is expected to be complete in June 2011, according to ODOT officials.

Sharon Smigielski, an ODOT public information officer, said traffic is still moving on south side of Ohio 63 while workers are installing new concrete pavement on the north side.

Workers also are putting in concrete for four new ramps at the SPUI interchange, which requires a realignment of them. Traffic is estimated to be on these ramps in the next month or so, she said.

Traffic will be on the new concrete on the north side of Ohio 63 in two months and then workers will start the same work on the south side, Smigielski said.

“The majority of the work at the SPUI Interchange there at Ohio 63 and Interstate 75 should be completed by the end of this construction season, which is around October or November depending how the weather holds,” she said.

Nevertheless, some local businesses in the community have been working with the city of Monroe and ODOT to make the road construction transition as smooth as possible.

“We’re very concerned about the timing of this opening as it relates to the construction. The construction is scheduled to be completed in October so we’ve got a couple months of traffic nightmares and traffic has already been difficult for us,” said Greg Dove, president of Levin Associates, which owns Treasure Aisles formerly known as Turtle Creek Flea Market on N. Garver Road in Monroe.

Monroe Police Chief Greg Homer said plans call for a total of eight officers from the city and the Warren County Sheriff’s Office to be assigned to traffic duty outside the outlet center.

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