meeting importance
From today's Lancaster Eagle Gazette.
http://www.lancastereaglegazette.com/news/stories/20030619/topstories/508001.html
ODOT seeks comments on U.S. 33
By CARL BURNETT JR.
The Eagle-Gazette Staff
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If the 13-mile stretch of U.S. 33 between the Lancaster bypass in Fairfield County and Hamilton Road in Franklin County is to become a limited access road without lights and stops, where should the interchanges go?
That is what the Ohio Department of Transportation is asking the public during a meeting set for June 26.
With the Lancaster bypass design and construction work in progress, state transportation planners have been working on how to make the area between Lancaster and Columbus have fewer stops and starts for the commuter traffic.
Fairfield County Administrator Patrick Harris said the townships and counties with jurisdiction in the area started working with ODOT on the problem during the last two years.
''A separate 33 Growth Alliance was formed halfway through the process by the communities involved along the route,'' Harris said. ''We wanted to make sure our views were heard on where we think the interchanges should be placed.''
Harris heads the group.
''We've been working closely with ODOT and have had a good working relationship with them,'' Harris said. ''We agree on most of it, but we have had some disagreements.
''One of the things the 33 Growth Alliance would like to have is an interchange located at Allen Road instead of Pickerington Road,'' Harris said.
The alliance also supports an interchange in the Carroll area, just north of Winchester Road. One plan being considered by ODOT would have the nearest interchange for Carroll located approximately 5 miles north of the village, effectively cutting the village into two parts.
The alliance also supports the construction of an overpass across U.S. 33 connecting Carroll-Southern and Winchester roads, providing direct access to the two halves of the village.
The public meeting next Thursday will present the different scenarios that have been developed by the planners.
The meeting will be held at the Peace United Methodist Church, 235 Diley Road N., Pickerington. It will be from 4 to 8 p.m.
Cindy Brown, spokeswoman for ODOT District 5, said the state was looking for public comment on the different interchange ideas and locations and would be collecting them during the meeting.
''We will look at each comment and try to see if they can be incorporated into the final environmental plan,'' Brown said.
Harris said the meeting is a crucial one for the selection of the interchanges along the route.
The earliest construction funding could be available for the project would be in 2007, Brown said.
If people who want to comment miss the meeting Thursday, public comments still can be made for inclusion in the environmental report until July 25 and should be sent to Rob Miller, CH2M HILL, 5775 Perimeter Drive, Dublin 43017.
Originally published Thursday, June 19, 2003
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