Busy stretches of Butler County roadway to see changes in 2017

The Butler County Engineer’s Office plans nearly $18 million in road projects this year throughout the county’s 13 townships.

These multi-million dollar plans are in addition to working with townships on road resurfacing and will include two large bridge replacements and the widening of some busy stretches of roadway.

The most expensive project planned for 2017 is the widening of Ohio 747 between Princeton and Millikin roads in Liberty Twp. The $7.12 million project will widen Ohio 747 to five full lanes and add sidewalks on both sides of the roadway.

The project also includes adding a turn lane on Millikin Road to Ohio 747 and a turn lane from Ohio 747 to Princeton Road.

In West Chester Twp., the Ohio 747 intersection at Tylersville Road will see the addition of a westbound turn lane to northbound Ohio 747.

Yankee Road in Liberty Twp. will see some major changes this summer, specifically in the stretch between Dutchland Parkway and Princeton Road.

An estimated $4.46 million project will include widening Yankee Road to three lanes, installation of a sidewalk, creating a roundabout at Yankee and Princeton roads and adding traffic signals at Dutchland Parkway.

The project will involve closing the intersection of Yankee and Princeton roads while the roundabout is constructed.

“We’ll maintain access for residents and local businesses,” Chris Petrocy of the Butler County Engineer’s Office said.

Two large bridge projects are slated for this summer: A $1.4 million replacement of the Cochran Road bridge over Indian Creek in Hanover Twp.; and the $364,675 bridge replacement on Browns Run Road over Browns Run in Madison Twp.

One road that stretches across both Lemon and Liberty townships will be ripped out to its base and rebuilt in late summer.

Hankins Road is scheduled for $458,000 in various improvements that include culvert replacement as well as total pavement rehabilitation and resurfacing.

“The pavement out there is in such bad shape,” Petrocy said. “We worked with the townships to get it funded by (Ohio Public Works Commission).”

Hankins Road will essentially be rebuilt from LeSourdsville West Chester Road to Yankee Road in Liberty Twp.

During the past several years there have been a number of subdivisions built that added more traffic to the road, according to Petrocy.

“We worked with a lot of people who contacted us and got a lot of input,” he said. “I think there are going to be a lot of people happy when this is completed.”

A stretch of Hamilton Mason Road between Bypass 4 and Ohio 747 will be resurfaced at an estimated cost of $358,047 this year. Though it will require lane closures, traffic will be maintained during the project, according to Petrocy.

There are several other road resurfacing projects planned throughout the county.

“We’re still making adjustments for this year’s projects,” Petrocy said. “Letters have been sent to the townships to identify what township and subdivision roads will be resurfaced this year.”

The county engineer’s office includes township resurfacing projects in its master paving project each year. The townships then reimburse the engineer’s office for the resurfacing costs.

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