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The city of Huber Heights is planning to improve a three-mile stretch of Chambersburg Road in anticipation of increased traffic on that thoroughfare that leads to Wright-Patterson Air Force Base.
The first phase of what appears to be a seven-phase, $8 million widening of Chambersburg from Brandt Pike to Ohio 4 is expected to begin next year, according to Scott Falkowski, Huber Heights assistant city manager.
The city widened the Chambersburg/Bellefontaine intersection last year to add turn lanes, and a traffic signal will be installed this spring, he said. The total cost of those two projects is about $500,000, city engineer Russ Bergman previously said.
The average daily traffic count on Chambersburg is around 10,000, and that number is expected to double by the year 2039, according to the Ohio Department of Transportation.
“We have a lot of citizens that work at the base, and Chambersburg is definitely the easiest route from our city,” Falkowski said. “This will provide better access to the base.”
ODOT is seeking public comment on phase three of the project, which is slated for the 2019 construction season. Issues the public can address include the impact of the project on local residents, air quality, economy, and historic or cultural resources.
Deadline to submit comment is Friday, Feb. 27. Those interested in providing feedback can call 937-497-6721 or email Tricia.Bishop@dot.state.oh.us.
Phase three involves improving Chambersburg from the Bellefontaine intersection approximately 1,800 feet east. The project also includes installation of an eight-foot wide multi-use trail on the north side of Chambersburg.
Falkowski said the multi-use trail will stretch from Brandt to Ohio 4.
According to Mandi Dillon, an ODOT spokesperson, phase three of the project is currently in the detailed design phase, which is scheduled to be completed in July 2017. The estimated cost of the project is $887,000.
Dillon said 65 percent of phase three will be federally funded, with the other 35 percent coming from local Huber Heights funds.
The total three-mile project, which is estimated to cost a little more than $8 million, will be paid for by grants and multiple local funds, such as street, permissive tax and gas tax, Falkowski said.
“The connector from Chambersburg down to Route 4 is very important to us,” Falkowski said. “Doing it in phases is the proper, fiscal way to do it.”
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