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I-75 construction facing delays

Vehicles travel on Interstate 75 at the north end of the Lockland split Monday. The Ohio Department of Transportation proposed last week delaying many construction projects along Interstate 75, especially from I-275 through Cincinnati because of funding shortfalls. The entire Hamilton County I-75 project that started in August was originally scheduled to finish in 2016. Now parts of the project might not be completed until 2030.

Staff photo by Nick Graham Vehicles travel on Interstate 75 at the north end of the Lockland split Monday. The Ohio Department of Transportation proposed last week delaying many construction projects along Interstate 75, especially from I-275 through Cincinnati because of funding shortfalls. The entire Hamilton County I-75 project that started in August was originally scheduled to finish in 2016. Now parts of the project might not be completed until 2030.

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By Ted Cox, Staff Writer 8:11 PM Monday, January 23, 2012

Construction projects to help alleviate traffic congestion on Interstate 75 between Butler County and the Ohio River are facing major delays if a new funding plan by the Ohio Department of Transportation is approved next week.

The first of an eight-phase, $664 million widening project in Cincinnati began in August at the Mitchell Avenue interchange. The entire project originally was to have all phases started by 2016. Now parts of the project might not get started until 2030.

“I hate it,” Tracy Bloomer posted on Facebook of her drive from Middletown to Reading. “If it gets worse, I’ll seriously start looking for another job. I already spend too much time on the road and away from my family.”

The Transportation Review Advisory Council is expected to vote on ODOT recommendations that the state delay some of its largest construction projects in order to deal with large budget shortfalls.

“Unfortunately, this is Ohio’s new reality,” said Jerry Wray, ODOT’s director and TRAC chairman. “For far too long, previous administrations have added more and more to the list of TRAC projects knowing that there were more projects than funds available. Their poor planning has put us in the position of making the tough decisions and delivering the bad news to many communities throughout the state that there simply is not enough money to fund their projects.”

TRAC, responsible for approving funding for the state’s largest transportation projects, received 72 applications in 2011 for new transportation projects totaling nearly $10 billion, according to ODOT Press Secretary Steve Faulkner. Additional projects already under way total $2 billion. ODOT only has roughly $100 million per year to spend on new construction.

The widening of I-75 from three to four lanes is complete in Butler County and nearly complete in Warren County. But much of the drive through Hamilton County to Cincinnati is three lanes, including the Lockland and Arlington Heights region, which curves and dips into the ground, leading to many traffic backups. The start of the changes to the Lockland area were pushed back to 2026.

“I drive from Fairfield to downtown Cincinnati every day, and my commute is no fun at all, especially on the drive home,” Scott Beck said. “The option for I-275 and I-74 to I-75 is really getting hectic between driving Warp 5 on the beltway to having someone two micrometers from your back bumper on 74, a place where my wife was No. 4 in a five-car pileup a couple of years ago.”

Beck added that he thinks the area needs a light rail system, an argument others are making since expanding roadways doesn’t always lead to less congestion.

“They (increased lanes), and it hasn’t helped traffic one bit,” said Rhonda Fomby, who drives from Middletown to Blue Ash. “In fact, it seems like it’s made it worse!”

State Rep. Courtney Combs, R-Hamilton, is chair of the House transportation committee, and is frustrated by projects not starting for more than 20 years.

“It’s so foolish for government to force communities and property owners to go through this process,” Combs said. “So much can change in that time (in 20 years). Rail could take off. Transportation could change totally. ... We can’t project out that far.”

He would like to put a hold on approving any new projects until alternative funding can be found.

As for the drive north on I-75 to Dayton, the news wasn’t as bad with just one change. The start date of a $237 million project to reconstruct I-75 through the city’s downtown was pushed back a year, beginning no earlier than late 2013 and finishing in 2017.

TRAC meets Jan. 31 to preliminarily accept the plan, then will take public comments until making a final vote in March or April.

Contact this reporter at (513) 483-5245 or Ted.Cox@coxinc.com.

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