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The date of the second, four-day closing on Butler-Warren Road to replace culverts in Liberty Township is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. Thursday and end by Monday evening. The closure was originally scheduled to take place July 19, but severe thunderstorms on July 18 forced construction to be rescheduled.

The road will close at between Sweet Briar Court and Four Bridges Drive.

During the closure, northbound Butler-Warren road traffic will detour west on Liberty Way, north on Cincinnati-Dayton Road and east on Bethany Road. Southbound traffic would reverse the road.

The closing is needed for work being done in conjunction with the nearly $10 million Butler-Warren Road widening and improvement project that began earlier this year.

Last week, the Butler County Engineer’s Office announced that Butler-Warren Road is now open between Tylersville Road and Liberty Way/Mason Road. This completion signifies the end of phase 1 of the Butler-Warren Road project.

However, motorists should be aware that crews will continue to perform some additional off road work and the top course of blacktop is not yet in place. Final paving and lane striping will be completed once Phases 2 and 3 of the Butler-Warren Road improvement are complete.

Phase 2 will involve work mostly in the area of the Liberty Way/Mason Road intersection. Phase 3 will involve widening the road between Liberty Way/Mason Road and Bethany Road. Thru traffic will be maintained while both of these phases.

For more information on road closures in Butler County, visit www.bceo.org/roadclosings.

Posted in: News, Traffic |

Tags: Tags: Butler County Engineer's Office, John R. Jurgenson Company, Liberty Way, Liberty Way/Mason, Tylersville Road, Warren County Engineer's Office, West Chester construction, West Chester road closures

The Butler County Engineer’s Office reported this week that a portion of LeSourdsville-West Chester Road will close for up to three weeks beginning Monday, July 23, while crews replace a culvert.

The road will close in West Chester Township, .6 mile north of Cherry Lane Farm Drive/Lyonhil Drive and ten feet south of Beckett Ridge Boulevard. It is expected to reopen the week of Aug. 6.

Northbound LeSourdsville-West Chester Road traffic will detour north on Cincinnati-Dayton Road and west on Tylersville Road. Southbound traffic would reverse the route.

Meanwhile, a four-day closing on Butler-Warren Road to replace culverts was scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. Thursday between Sweet Briar Court and Four Bridges Drive.

However, the closure has been rescheduled due Wednesday’s thunderstorms. It is now tentatively scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. next Thursday, July 26, and end by the evening of July 30.

During that closure, northbound Butler-Warren road traffic will detour west on Liberty Way, north on Cincinnati-Dayton Road and east on Bethany Road. Southbound traffic would reverse the road.

The closing is needed for work being done in conjunction with the nearly $10 million Butler-Warren Road widening and improvement project that began earlier this year.

The Butler County Engineer’s Office did announced Thursday that Butler-Warren Road is now open between Tylersville Road and Liberty Way/Mason Road. This completion signifies the end of phase 1 of the Butler-Warren Road project.

However, motorists should be aware that crews will continue to perform some additional off road work and the top course of blacktop is not yet in place. Final paving and lane striping will be completed once Phases 2 and 3 of the Butler Warren Road improvement are complete.

Phase 2 and 3 are now expected to begin immediately. Phase 2 will involve work mostly in the area of the Liberty Way/Mason Road intersection. Phase 3 will involve widening the road between Liberty Way/Mason Road and Bethany Road. Thru traffic will be maintained while both of these phases

For more information on road closures in Butler County, visit www.bceo.org/roadclosings.

Posted in: News, Traffic |

Tags: Tags: Butler County Engineer's Office, John R. Jurgenson Company, Liberty Way, Liberty Way/Mason, Tylersville Road, Warren County Engineer's Office, West Chester construction, West Chester road closures

Sue Kiesewetter reports

The date of the second, four-day closing on Butler-Warren Road to replace culverts in Liberty Township has been moved up by one day, officials said.

The road will close at 7 p.m., Thursday, between Sweet Briar Court and Four Bridges Drive. The road will reopen at 4 p.m., July 23.

Northbound Butler-Warren road traffic will detour west on Liberty Way, north on Cincinnati-Dayton Road and east on Bethany Road. Southbound traffic would reverse the road.

The closing is needed for work being done in conjunction with the nearly $10 million Butler-Warren Road widening and improvement project that began earlier this year.

That four-phase project began four months ago and closed the road south of Liberty Way/Mason Road. When completed, a 2.2-mile stretch of Butler-Warren will be widened from two lanes to five lanes between Tylersville and Liberty Way/Mason roads.

The Butler-Warren road south of Liberty Way/Mason Road is tentatively scheduled to reopen in mid-July.

For more information on road closures in Butler County, visit www.bceo.org/roadclosings.

Posted in: News, Traffic |

Tags: Tags: Butler County Engineer's Office, John R. Jurgenson Company, Liberty Way, Liberty Way/Mason, Tylersville Road, Warren County Engineer's Office, West Chester construction, West Chester road closures

The Butler County Engineer’s Office reports that two separate closures will take place in July on Butler-Warren Road north of the Liberty Way/Mason Road intersection. The closures are affiliated with the third phase of the Butler-Warren Road improvement project.

The first closure is scheduled to begin Friday at 9 a.m. and end Monday at 4 p.m. and is located between Hampton Cove Court and Sweet Briar Court.

The second closure is scheduled for July 20 at 9 a.m. through July 23 at 4 p.m. and is located between Sweet Briar Court and Four Bridges Drive.

Northbound Butler-Warren Road traffic will detour west on Liberty Way, north on Cincinnati-Dayton Road and east on Bethany Road. Southbound traffic will reverse this route.

Meanwhile, Butler-Warren Road remains closed south of Liberty Way/Mason Road and is tentatively scheduled to reopen in mid-July 2012.

The project, which began in February, will widen a 2.2-mile stretch of road between Tylersville and Liberty Way/Mason roads from 2-to-5 lanes at a cost of almost $10 million.

Along with widening the road, curbs and gutters will be installed. A walking and biking path will be constructed on the west side of the road between Tylersville and Hampton Cove Court.

A federal grant will pay 60 percent of the construction costs, with Butler and Warren counties each contributing 20 percent, Butler County Engineer’s Office spokesman Chris Petrocy told The Cincinnati Enquirer in February.

Later this summer, the project’s second phase, which involves reconstruction of the intersection at Butler-Warren and Liberty Way/Mason Road will begin.

Shortly after, the rest of the third phase, which includes rebuilding a section of Butler-Warren from Liberty Way/Mason Road, north to Bethany, will get underway.

The fourth and final phase will be finished in the spring of 2013 and includes construction of the path, final paving and lane striping.

Posted in: News, Traffic |

Tags: Tags: Butler County Engineer's Office, John R. Jurgenson Company, Liberty Way, Liberty Way/Mason, Tylersville Road, Warren County Engineer's Office, West Chester construction, West Chester road closures

The Butler County Engineer’s Office reports that two separate closures will take place in July on Butler-Warren Road north of the Liberty Way/Mason Road intersection. The closures are affiliated with the third phase of the Butler-Warren Road improvement project.

The first closure is scheduled for July 6, 2012 at 9 a.m. through July 9, 2012 at 4 p.m. and is located between Hampton Cove Court and Sweet Briar Court.

The second closure is scheduled for July 20, 2012 at 9 a.m. through July 23, 2012 at 4 p.m. and is located between Sweet Briar Court and Four Bridges Drive.

Northbound Butler-Warren Road traffic will detour west on Liberty Way, north on Cincinnati-Dayton Road and east on Bethany Road. Southbound traffic will reverse this route.

Meanwhile, Butler-Warren Road remains closed south of Liberty Way/Mason Road and is tentatively scheduled to reopen in mid-July 2012.

The project, which began in February, will widen a 2.2-mile stretch of road between Tylersville and Liberty Way/Mason roads from 2-to-5 lanes at a cost of almost $10 million.

Along with widening the road, curbs and gutters will be installed. A walking and biking path will be constructed on the west side of the road between Tylersville and Hampton Cove Court.

A federal grant will pay 60 percent of the construction costs, with Butler and Warren counties each contributing 20 percent, Butler County Engineer’s Office spokesman Chris Petrocy told The Cincinnati Enquirer in February.

Later this summer, the project’s second phase, which involves reconstruction of the intersection at Butler-Warren and Liberty Way/Mason Road will begin.

Shortly after, the rest of the third phase, which includes rebuilding a section of Butler-Warren from Liberty Way/Mason Road, north to Bethany, will get underway.

The fourth and final phase will be finished in the spring of 2013 and includes construction of the path, final paving and lane striping.

Posted in: News, Traffic |

Tags: Tags: Butler County Engineer's Office, John R. Jurgenson Company, Liberty Way, Liberty Way/Mason, Tylersville Road, Warren County Engineer's Office, West Chester construction, West Chester road closures

Sue Kiesewetter reports for The Cincinnati Enquirer:

The widening of Butler-Warren Road should ease congestion for thousands of motorists in southeast Butler County and southwest Warren County by year’s end.

Plans call for a 2.2-mile stretch of the road between Tylersville and Liberty Way/Mason roads to be widened from two to five lanes at a cost of almost $10 million.

About 15,000 cars use the road daily, often facing gridlock at peak periods of the day, said Neil Tunison, Warren County engineer.

“Part of the thinking in improving the road is the potential to utilize the Liberty Way interchange with I-75 and relieve the pressure on Tylersville Road,’’ said Butler County Engineer Greg Wilkens.

“Tylersville Road in that area is one of the most used county roads. Whatever we can do to move traffic away from that interchange will be helpful.’’

About 50,000 cars from Warren and Butler counties use the stretch of Tylersville between Cox Road and Interstate 75 on a daily basis, Wilkens said.

Improvements are slated to begin Feb. 27 and will be done by low-bidder John R. Jurgenson Co. Along with widening the road, curbs and gutters will be installed. A walking and biking path will be constructed on the west side of the road between Tylersville and Hampton Cove Court.

A federal grant will pay 60 percent of the construction costs, with Butler and Warren counties each contributing 20 percent, said Chris Petrocy, spokesman for the Butler County Engineer’s Office.

The work will be done in four phases, with the first being the most disruptive to motorists. Butler-Warren will be closed from 450 feet north of Tylersville Road to just south of Liberty Way/Mason Road for four months beginning Feb. 27, weather permitting.

During the first phase, traffic will detour west on Tylersville, north on Cox and east on Liberty Way. Southbound traffic would reverse the route.

The second phase is expected to start in the early summer and involves reconstruction of the intersection at Butler-Warren and Liberty Way/Mason Road. Traffic will be maintained.

The third phase of work begins in mid-summer and includes rebuilding a section of Butler-Warren from Liberty Way/Mason Road, north to Bethany. There might be several short closings of two to three days each.

The final phase will be finished in spring 2013 and includes construction of the path, final paving, and lane striping.

This is the second major Warren County road project in the area, Tunison said. Last fall work Jurgensen was awarded a $7.1 million contract to widen Bethany Road from Butler-Warren east, about 1.5 miles. That project should be finished in mid-2013.

Both projects were recommended a 2005 study of improvements needed to southwest Warren County, Tunison said.

“Having Butler County take the lead on this – Butler-Warren Road – project has really helped us so we can concentrate on Bethany Road,” Tunison said. “It’s been good to use their expertise.’’\

Posted in: Business, News, Traffic |

Tags: Tags: Butler County Engineer's Office, John R. Jurgenson Company, Liberty Way, Liberty Way/Mason, Tylersville Road, Warren County Engineer's Office, West Chester construction, West Chester road closures

In order to replace a large culvert under the roadway, a portion of U.S. 42 in West Chester Township will be closed beginning Feb. 18. The work is scheduled to take 14 days, but could be completed sooner, according to the Ohio Department of Transportation.

The closure will take place near the 8700 block of U.S. Route 42, between Butler-Warren and Cox roads. Access to all businesses and properties will be maintained throughout the closure.

An approved detour route will be posted that directs traffic north on Cox Road, east on Tylersville Road and southwest on U.S. Route 42. The route is reversed for those headed southwest on U.S. Route 42. The detour is an additional 1.29 miles.

The closure is part of ODOT’s $9.1 million project, which includes the widening of U.S. Route 42 to three lanes providing a through lane in each direction and a middle two-way left-turn lane from Fields-Ertel Road north to Butler-Warren Road.

The project, which is scheduled for completion in the fall of 2012, also includes the addition of left turn lanes on both approaches of Dimmick Road

The upcoming closure has presented challenges for businesses in the corridor, according to a press release from West Chester Township. However, the township does not have direct control over the construction process and will continue to work closely with ODOT.

Posted in: News, Traffic |

Tags: Tags: Cox Road, Cox Road West Chester, Tylersville Road, Tylersville Road West Chester, U.S. 42, U.S. 42 project, U.S. 42 West Chester, West Chester Traffic, West Chester traffic delays

Work on two light towers Wednesday will require lane closures on southbound Interstate 75, according to the Ohio Department of Transportation.

The first job, which will involve crews erecting a light tower, will take place between Hamilton-Mason Road and Tylersville Road (mile marker 23) from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesday. During the job, the left lane will be closed.

That night, while workers repair a different light tower, the right lane just before the ramp to Galbraith Road (mile marker 11) will be closed from 8 p.m. to 3 a.m.

Law enforcement officers will be used for traffic control during each closure. Lighting contractor American Lighting & Signalization will be performing the work.

Arrow boards and signs will be in place prior to the work zone to alert motorists of the upcoming road closure.

To help ensure the safety of the construction workers as well as the traveling public, motorists should remain alert, reduce their speed and watch for stopped traffic while passing through the work zone.

For additional information on lane and road closures caused by construction, accidents or other related traffic events, visit www.BuckeyeTraffic.org.

U.S. 42 closure: Culvert replacement will require closing U.S. 42 between Cox Road and Tylersville Road from Feb. 18 to March 2, according to ODOT. The closure will be approximately 475 feet north of Manors Drive.

The posted detour for northbound U.S. 42 traffic will be north (left) on Cox Road to east (right) on Tylersville Road, back to U.S. 42. The detour for southbound U.S. 42 traffic will be the same in reverse. The detour is an additional 1.29 miles.

Posted in: News |

Tags: Tags: Cox Road, Cox Road West Chester, I-75, I-75 construction, I-75 lane closures, I-75 work, Interstate 75, Ohio Department of Transportation, Tylersville Road, Tylersville Road at I-75, Tylersville Road West Chester, U.S. 42, U.S. 42 project, U.S. 42 West Chester, West Chester Traffic, West Chester traffic delays

To let West Chester and Liberty Township residents catch up with the news that they need to know, WestChesterBuzz.com will list and link to all of last week’s top local stories every Monday morning. (Stories are listed in order of date)

Lakota preschool program could be merged: During last Monday’s school board meeting, Lakota officials discussed merging its preschool program with county programs. The proposed joint venture with Butler County Educational Service Center (ESC) would save about $1.2 million of the target $9 million in savings Lakota officials have said is needed for next school year. The merger would affect 288 preschool students and would eliminate 17 classroom jobs for the 2012-2013 school year.

AK Steel executive to retire: Last Monday, West Chester based AK Steel announced that its long-time spokesman Alan H. McCoy, vice president, government and public relations, has elected to retire effective January 31. McCoy was named general manager, public relations for AK Steel in 1994. He is currently a director of the Ohio Steel Council and also serves as a trustee of Ursuline Academy.

West Chester’s IKEA activates solar energy system: The IKEA in West Chester is now powering its lights, operating its cash registers and cooking its Swedish meatballs using a solar energy system that is located on the store’s rooftop. Heather Spatz, West Chester’s IKEA store manager, officially announced the activation of the solar energy system last Tuesday. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, the amount of clean electricity produced by 4,186 solar panels atop the IKEA building is equivalent to eliminating the yearly emissions of 180 passenger cars.

Road projects to affect Cincinnati-Dayton Road, Ohio 129 and U.S. 42: Last Tuesday, The Butler County Engineer’s Office announced that it is planning to improve Cincinnati-Dayton Road at the Ohio 129 interchange in Liberty Township. The project, which is slated for construction in 2014, is currently in the preliminary engineering phase with environmental studies and early design plans under way. The $2.5 million project is geared to improving traffic safety and flow in the area. Meanwhile, the Ohio Department of Transportation announced last Tuesday that culvert replacement will require closing U.S. 42 between Cox Road and Tylersville Road from Feb. 18 to March 2.

Lakota West falls to Fairfield in battle for 2nd in GMC: After handing Middletown its first conference loss Jan. 20, Lakota West hosted Fairfield last Tuesday in a basketball game between two programs tied for second place in the Greater Miami Conference. The Firebirds jumped out to an early lead, but fell behind and eventually lost 70-59. Lakota West did rebound with a win last Friday when it defeated Colerain by the score 77-71 in overtime. The Firebirds are currently in a three-way tie for third in the GMC.

West Chester cop David Busemeyer pleads guilty to felonies, quits job: A police officer pleaded guilty to two felony charges, then resigned from his job last Wednesday. David Busemeyer, who was accused of alerting a drug dealer to an undercover bust, admitted to attempted tampering with evidence and obstructing official business. In exchange for his plea in Butler County Common Pleas Court, a charge of obstructing justice was dismissed. Busemeyer also was accused of revealing the identity of a confidential informant in the case. After the plea, Busemeyer tendered his resignation from the job he had held since August 2002. He faces a maximum prison term of two and a half years, but could be granted probation at sentencing March 8.

Two killed in West Chester crash: Police found two people dead Saturday morning in a car that crashed into two parked semi tractor-trailers at a distribution warehouse at 9842 International Blvd. Police determined that the victims were traveling northbound on International Boulevard in a Honda Civic when it veered off the road, passed through a parking lot, hit two trees, encountered a berm and became airborne. When the car landed, it went under one tractor-trailer, sheering off the car’s top. The car then became wedged under a second tractor-trailer. The names of the victims have not been released.

Posted in: Board of Education, Crime, Levy news, News, Schools, Sports, Traffic, Winter Sports |

Tags: Tags: AK Steel, AK Steel West Chester, Alan H. McCoy, Alan McCoy, Barbara Wilson, Butler County Engineer’s Office, Cincinnati-Dayton Road, Cincinnati-Dayton Road Liberty Township, Cox Road, Cox Road West Chester, David Busemeyer, IKEA, IKEA Cincinnati, IKEA photos, IKEA solar photos, IKEA solar power, IKEA solar power Cincinnati, IKEA solar power West Chester, IKEA West Chester, Lakota, Lakota cuts, Lakota Local Schools, Lakota preschool, Lakota preschool program, Lakota reductions, Lakota school levy, Lakota West, Lakota West basketball, Lakota West sports, Last week in West Chester, Liberty Township construction, Ohio 129, Ohio 129 Liberty Township, Tylersville Road, Tylersville Road West Chester, U.S. 42, U.S. 42 project, U.S. 42 West Chester, West Chester accident, West Chester Police Officer David Busemeyer, West Chester Traffic, West Chester traffic delays

Culvert replacement will require closing U.S. 42 between Cox Road and Tylersville Road from Feb. 18 to March 2, according to the Ohio Department of Transportation. The closure will be approximately 475 feet north of Manors Drive.

The posted detour for northbound U.S. 42 traffic will be north (left) on Cox Road to east (right) on Tylersville Road, back to U.S. 42. The detour for southbound U.S. 42 traffic will be the same in reverse. The detour is an additional 1.29 miles.

Arrow boards and signs will be in place prior to the work zone to alert motorists of the upcoming road closure.

To help ensure the safety of the construction workers as well as the traveling public, motorists should remain alert, reduce their speed and watch for stopped traffic while passing through the work zone.

For additional information on lane and road closures caused by construction, accidents or other related traffic events, visit www.BuckeyeTraffic.org.

Posted in: News, Traffic |

Tags: Tags: Cox Road, Cox Road West Chester, Tylersville Road, Tylersville Road West Chester, U.S. 42, U.S. 42 project, U.S. 42 West Chester, West Chester Traffic, West Chester traffic delays