Two ordinances that were necessary for the --> --> --> (ODOT) to proceed with the $664 million --> --> -->I-75 Mill Creek Expressway --> --> --> project were passed unanimously by Cincinnati City council at its meeting August 5.

The first ordinance would allow the City to enter into a contract for right of entry with the State of Ohio to allow ODOT to have access to City-owned land in and around the in Camp Washington, part of a $6.5 million reconstruction of the bridge and roadway scheduled to begin next year.

Appraisals of the City-owned property are currently under way.

A second ordinance authorizes the City to accept an appropriate $600,000 from ODOT to offset the possible loss of the Department of Public Services' Valley View salt dome loading area and bulk construction material storage bins – and possibly the salt dome itself – when the bridge is reconstructed and the Interstate is widened.

Scheduled to begin next spring and to be completed in May 2020, the I-75 Mill Creek Expressway project includes the addition of one traffic lane in each direction between the Western Hills Viaduct and Paddock Road and reconstruction of the interchanges at Hopple Street, I-74, Mitchell Avenue, the Norwood Lateral (OH-562), and Paddock Road.

The partial interchange at Towne Street will be eliminated.


Other road funding

In other action, council approved unanimously an ordinance allowing the City to apply for grants and loans from Hamilton County's Municipal Road Fund and the Ohio Public Works Commission (OPWC).

An application for the county funding is due this month. Applications for OPWC State Capital Improvement Program, Local Transportation Improvement Program, and Revolving Loan Program funding are due in September.

If received and approved by council, the grants and loans will be applied to projects around Anderson Township and St. Bernard, along roads where the City of Cincinnati shares jurisdiction.

Previous reading on BC:
ODOT funding could offset losses of Cincinnati service facilities (8/4/09)
'Right of entry' ordinance for I-75 project in Cincinnati committee (7/2/09)
With finding of no impact, $664M Mill Creek Expressway project advances (6/9/09)
I-75 environmental document now available (1/29/09)
Cincinnati council opposed to I-75/Hopple plans (7/2/08)