I-75 Galbraith Road Exit Closure Info.

Submitted by Melanie Allen, View Place resident

MEMO TO THOSE AFFECTED BY THE I-75 GALBRAITH ROAD EXIT CLOSURE PLANS

This memo encourages individuals and businesses to actively speak up before the decision is made to close off the Galbraith Road I-75 ramps. Three alternative plans of the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) I-75 project "Through the Valley" would close these ramps. Wyoming City Council, working closely with Springfield Twp., Hamilton County Commissioners, Reading and many other communities and groups has been actively opposing these changes. ODOT plans to make its final decision soon after the last public comments, July 19, 1-7, Sharonville Convention Center. Once the decision is made by ODOT, funds will be sought in 2007; engineering done in 2007-8; then in 2009 construction will begin and the permanent closures will occur.

Unanimous (repeat, a word rarely heard, unanimous) objections to the closure have been expressed by all (repeat all) political jurisdictions around the exits and by all major employers in the area (UC, Patheon, Drake, McCluskey) and all realtors and all community groups (Hartwell, Carthage etc.). If the effort is not successful, Springfield Twp. will be affected by the large flow of traffic down one-lane eastbound Galbraith exit off Reagan Highway; Winton Road businesses would be impacted by the indirect change in traffic flows and backups at exits serving Galbraith; the Valleydale area will be much more isolated than it is now; and the tax base of businesses in the Springfield Twp. area of the Vine St. corridor will be diminished.

I have grave concerns based on my meetings in Columbus and elsewhere that this closure cannot be stopped without 4 key actions –
Businesses and residents should write to Gordon Proctor, Ohio Dept. Transportation, 1980 W. Broad St., Columbus 43233, urging ODOT not to close the Galbraith exits; and copies should be sent to Wyoming City Manager, 800 Oak St., Wyoming 45215 for gathering into our mass presentation.
State Sen. Patty Clancey and State Rep. Jim Raussen, and any others who are known to your businesses and residents, should also hear of your desire to keep open the Galbraith exits (each at State House, Columbus OH 45215).

Please come to the Monday April 17 7:30 pm meeting at Wyoming Civic Center, Springfield Pike at Worthington Ave. to see our "best case" and hear ODOT present its reasons for the closures.
Every possible effort should be made for extraordinary turnout of opponents on Wed., July 19, 1-7 pm at Sharonville Convention Center.

Once the closures occur, the deed is done and the state’s engineers will not change it. So our efforts now, and with legislators on funding decisions, need to be vigorous and sustained. Thanks for doing your part to help this large group effort.