Fairborn OKs funds for road ‘in dire need’ of repair near homes, new high school

Credit: CONTRIBUTED

Credit: CONTRIBUTED

Fairborn has approved using special tax district money to fund about $1 million in road work on a developing thoroughfare where the new high school is being built near Interstate 675.

Commerce Center Boulevard from Garland Avenue to East Dayton Yellow Springs Road, which hasn’t been repaved since it opened in 2006, is deteriorating, Fairborn Assistant Engineer Manuel Jacobs said.

That section is “in rough shape and is in dire need of some attention,” Jacobs said.

It “has seen a lot activity in the last couple of years” with the new high school construction and the Arden Place housing development now in Phase 4 with two more sections planned, he said.

“And I think there’s even more plans for additions to the area,” Jacobs added. “So, Commerce Center is going to be seeing a lot of activity.”

Fairborn City Council on Monday night approved a plan to use the Valle Greene/Commerce Center Tax Increment Financing Fund to pay for the work.

The fund has about $1.1 million in it, and the city’s finance staff has signed off on the plan, Jacobs said. That stretch of Commerce Center is about 1.4 miles, according to the city.

The goal is to complete the work by the time the school year starts, Fairborn records show. The $82 million new high school is scheduled to be finished in August, according to the district.

Fairborn Mayor Dan Kirkpatrick said Commerce Center is the only access road to Arden Place and the high school. He asked about any problems the roadwork may pose to vehicles and equipment to complete the new school.

Jacobs said the city is communicating with the school district and “There should not be any conflict at all.

“We will definitely keep the school (district) informed in terms of schedule and operations,” he said. “At no point should Commerce Center be closed. You might have a lane reduced … But it is a very minimal impact.

“Traffic should still be able to flow freely through it,” Jacobs said. “It might be a little restricted, but it shouldn’t impact them at all.”

Arden Place is east of Commerce Center, across the street and slightly south of the new high school.

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