Journal-News.com

HAMILTON – According to current estimates, restoring all Hamilton roads to excellent condition would cost more than $66 million.

City Public Works Director Ralph Reigelsperger updated Hamilon City Council about the conditions of roads before the meeting on Wednesday, March 26. The amount he presented council increased from the $50 million he discussed a few years ago.

"The longer we do not do anything or don't address this in a significant way, that number goes up substantially," Reigelsperger said.

He said that report from the Ohio Public Works Commission stated that Hamilton has 11 miles of roads in critical condition and 51 miles of road in poor condition.

The street fund budget has about $2.5 million in it, Reigelsperger said. However, the fund also pays for salaries, snow removal and sweeper costs, among other items.

Ideally, he said, the entire city's roads would be resurfaced on a 15-year cycle, which would involve resurfacing about 14 miles of roads a year at a cost of $5.6 million a year.

Reigelsperger also explained upcoming road improvements the city was planning, notably the widening of Bypass Ohio 4 and improvements to the South Hamilton Crossing.

Councilman Ed Shelton said that the bypass project will allow more access to the Hamilton Enterprise Park and the Butler County Regional Airport, both of which would benefit Hamilton in the future. Likewise, Councilman Jim Noonan said the South Hamilton Crossing was vital to Hamilton's future because it will provide better access to the Vora Technology Park.

Contact this reporter at (513) 820-2190 or jrinaldi@coxohio.com.