MasonBuzz.com

A proposed upgrade to the Fields Ertel/Mason-Montgomery interchange off Interstate 71 could reduce traffic there by as much as 55 percent, according to Warren County transportation officials.

More than two dozen residents crowded Deerfield Township’s trustees room Thursday to hear representatives of the Warren County Transportation District discuss upgrades to the traffic-clogged interchange near the border of southern Warren and northern Hamilton counties.

About 80,000 vehicles travel through the intersection each day, resulting in delays and backups that have long been a source of frustration for residents and commuters.

The area is a key economic engine for Warren County. Within miles of the interchange are, among others: Procter & Gamble’s Mason Business Center, Deerfield Towne Center shopping center, Kings Automall and Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center’s Mason campus.

“Statewide, this was the highest-ranked project in Ohio,” said Joseph Vogel, a planning and engineering administrator with the Ohio Department of Transportation’s District 08 in Lebanon.

Warren County Engineer Neil Tunison says the county is making phased improvements to the area.

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Posted in: Deerfield Twp., News, Traffic |

Tags: Tags: additional lane, commute, construction, deerfield township, exit, fields ertel, i-71, improvement, joseph vogel, loop ramp, mason, meeting, neil tunison, public, symmes township, traffic, warren county

Two state grants awarded to the city of Mason will help pave the way to increased business development in the city.

The city has received a $150,000 Ohio Department of Development 629 grant and an additional $50,000 through the Ohio Department of Transportation’s Office of Jobs and Commerce.

Both projects will be used to complete an extension of Alliance Drive in the Lakewood Commerce Park off Mason-Montgomery Road, north of downtown Mason.

The city constructed the roadway three years ago as part of a development deal in which the city received property to construct Mason Fire Station 51 in exchange for building the roadway, said City Manager Eric Hansen.

The roadway extension will connect to the site of a proposed new meat processing plant. Empire Foods purchased 21 acres of land in November and has plans to build a $7 million, 90,000-square-fot manufacturing and packing plant on the parcel, according to city officials.

The project will create 200 jobs within three years of operation, generating an estimated $5 million in annual payroll. Construction of the plant is expected to be finished by the end of next year.

The roadway extension also opens up 11 acres of light industrial ground within the park, making it an attractive site for developers, said Hansen.

“If it weren’t for (the road construction), that would be additional cost borne by the business to get access for their property. This takes the additional burden off the company,” he said.

The two grants cover 50 percent of the road construction’s cost, with the additional amount funded through the city and developer Henkle Schueler, he said.

Work is already underway on the roadway extension and is expected to be completed by early summer, said Hansen.

Posted in: Business, News |

Tags: Tags: alliance drive, business, city of mason, construction, development, empire foods, eric hansen, grants, henkle schueler, mason, meat processing plant, state grants

Jason Williams reports:

A new website offers motorists real-time updates on delays, road closures and conditions, the Ohio Department of Transportation announced today.

The website, www.ohgo.com, is more user-friendly across multiple digital devices, including personal computers, tablets and smartphones, ODOT officials say.

The website offers users updates on accident sites, construction areas and travel times. Updates can be viewed on an interactive map, and the website allows users to share information on Facebook and Twitter.

Greater Cincinnati updates can specifically be viewed at www.ohgo.com/dashboard/cincinnati.

The website replaces www.BuckeyeTraffic.org.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Posted in: News, Ohio |

Tags: Tags: construction, delays, odot, ohgo.com, ohio, traffic, website

A portion of Socialville-Foster Road will remain closed on Friday, reports the Warren County Engineer’s Office.

The roadway was originally scheduled to close between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Thursday between Old 3C Highway and Western Row Road in Deerfield Township.  The work has now been extended through Friday.

Detours will be posted and will use Old 3C Highway, Landen Drive and Socialville-Foster Road.

For more information, call the engineer’s office at 513-695-3302 or go to www.wceo.us.

Posted in: News, Traffic |

Tags: Tags: closed, construction, delay, detour, socialville-foster road, traffic, warren county engineer's office

A portion of Socialville-Foster Road will close for four hours Thursday, reports the Warren County Engineer’s Office.

The roadway will close between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. between Old 3C Highway and Western Row Road in Deerfield Township.

The original closure date was set for Wednesday, but weather forecasts pushed construction back one day.

Detours will be posted and will use Old 3C Highway, Landen Drive and Socialville-Foster Road.

For more information, call the engineer’s office at 513-695-3302 or go to www.wceo.us.

Posted in: News, Traffic |

Tags: Tags: closed, construction, delay, detour, socialville-foster road, traffic, warren county engineer's office

Rebekah Zoz, of West Chester, raises her hands in praise as she sings among the congregation at Mosaic Gospel Community in Mason, on Sunday, Sept. 16. The Mosaic Gospel Community is currently holding service at the Endeavor Learning Center while their new church building is being renovated. The Enquirer/ Amanda Davidson

Paul McKibben reports:

Posted in: Community, News |

Tags: Tags: arthur farnsley, catholic, christian, church, churches, construction, lebanon, mason, mosaic gospel community, religion, roger hendricks, southwest church, springboro, st. francis de sales, warren county

Some relief is coming for motorists used to congestion at the Fields Ertel/Mason-Montgomery Interstate 71 interchange.

Officials announced Thursday they have secured almost $20 million in funding for three construction projects in the heavily traveled corridor.

“It’s probably one of the most critical projects in the region because of the safety aspect and also the economic … impact that the project has,” said Mark Policinski, executive director of the Ohio-Kentucky-Indiana Regional Council of Governments.

The projects are:

• Expanding the exit lane at the northbound I-71 Fields-Ertel/Mason-Montgomery exit that will allow vehicles to exit I-71 and move onto an expanded off ramp sooner. Officials said this will create more separation between freeway and exiting traffic. The project costs $2 million. It is expected to start in the third quarter of 2013 and be completed by the second quarter of 2014.

• Building a “loop ramp” to relieve congestion at the Fields-Ertel/Mason-Montgomery intersection by allowing northbound traffic to bypass the intersection. The cost is $12.2 million. The project will start in the first quarter of 2014 and could be finished by the fourth quarter of 2015. During morning rush hour, 40 percent of traffic traveling through the intersection is from the northbound I-71 off-ramp.

• Access management improvements are planned for Gregory Street and Fields Ertel Road. The work costs $2.4 million. It will start in the third quarter of 2015 and could be done by the second quarter of 2016.

Already two projects are done.

• A $1.6 million project that involved building an additional northbound lane from Fields Ertel Road to Parkway Drive.

• A $1.4 million project where 22 traffic signals were coordinated in the area.

Warren County Commissioner Dave Young said the projects won’t completely solve the traffic headaches “simply because the problems are with growth and with congestion, (and) you’re never going to completely fix (it). … There’s still going to be congestion at times.” But he said the quality of life will dramatically improve for residents and visitors.

Posted in: News, Traffic |

Tags: Tags: commute, construction, dave young, deerfield township, exit, exit lanes, fields ertel road, i-71, improvement, loop ramp, mason, mason-montgomery road, Ohio Department of Transportation, ohio kentucky indiana regional council of governments, symmes, traffic, warren county commissioner

Dave Young is a Warren County commissioner.

We hear a lot these days about collaboration – regional cooperation, bipartisan teamwork, the list goes on. Too often, though, those ideals are more talk than action.

I’m part of a project team that truly is working across geographic and political lines to improve the quality of life for the people of Southwest Ohio.

The improvements taking place at the Fields Ertel and Mason-Montgomery roads interchange at Interstate 71 are truly an example of regional and bipartisan cooperation. I believe this project is the single most important infrastructure improvement in our region. The improvements will ease congestion, expand access to business and shopping, and improve safety for all who travel through the Fields Ertel/Mason-Montgomery roads area.

You may have already noticed a few of the changes – a new northbound lane has been added on Mason-Montgomery Road between Fields Ertel and Parkway Drive, and we’re working with the Ohio Department of Transportation to upgrade the traffic signals at 22 different places throughout the area. I’ve heard from numerous residents and commuters that those changes are already making a difference and reducing their travel time through the area.

But we’re not finished. Multiple roadway improvements have been approved – and funded! – and will continue over the next few years.

I’d like to invite you to learn more about these changes at an upcoming community meeting that will take place this evening. I’ll be there, along with many of my colleagues from Warren County, Hamilton County, Deerfield and Symmes townships – this project wouldn’t be happening without their support and cooperation. (You can also find out more about the project at www.AdvancingFieldsErtel.com.)

I believe working to ensure the safety of people traveling to and from home and work is one of the central functions of government. I can assure you that your tax dollars are being used wisely and constructively to improve the quality of life for people who live and work in the Fields Ertel/Mason-Montgomery roads area.

Warren and Hamilton counties are ripe for continued investment and job growth. These roadway improvements will support job creation and stimulate regional development.

Posted in: Uncategorized |

Tags: Tags: commute, construction, dave young, deerfield township, exit, fields ertel road, i-71, mason, mason-montgomery road, Ohio Department of Transportation, symmes, traffic, warren county commissioner

A portion of Bethany Road in Mason will close early next month.

The roadway will close Sept. 4-11 between Melampy Creek and Meadowbrook lanes for the pouring of a bridge deck, reports the Warren County Engineer’s Office.

The Pinnacle Lane closure will still be in effect and will remain throughout the Bethany Road closure. Detours will be posted.

For more information, call the Warren County Engineer’s Office at 513-695-3302 or go to www.wceo.us.

Posted in: News, Traffic |

Tags: Tags: bethany road, close, closure, construction, detour, pinnacle lane, traffic, warren county engineer's office

Construction to control flooding on Irwin-Simpson Road in Deerfield Township is complete.

The $1150,000 project, which began May 10, saw the implementation of 1,200 lineal feet of storm sewer installation and construction of 15 new storm inlets on the roadway between I-71 and Wagon Trail Drive.

The project was initiated by residents’ requests for assistance.  The project was a collaboration of Deerfield Township, the Deerfield Regional Storm Water District and the Warren County Engineer’s Office.

The District is currently working on two smaller projects for 2012: the Pinnacle Drive storm sewer outlet repair; and the Capital Ave. sinkhole repair.

For more information, call the Deerfield Township Storm Water District at 513-701-6958.

Posted in: Deerfield Twp., News, Traffic |

Tags: Tags: construction, deerfield regional storm water district, deerfield township, flooding, irwin-simpson road, traffic, warren county engineer's office