Many residents rejoiced at the news, but some voiced concerns via social media about traffic on Old Troy Pike. Residents say that from about 4:30 to 7 p.m. the northbound traffic on the road is backed up from Interstate 70 to Longford Road.
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Huber Heights resident Amy Sparks said she works at Rural King, located at 7611 Old Troy Pike, and traffic there is “so crazy” that customers often complain to her about it. Sparks said her teenage son works at Texas Roadhouse and teenage daughter works at Fazolis off of Old Troy Pike.
“If they both work around the same time it is hard to turn left from Merily Way by McDonalds,” Sparks said. “Trying to get over the bridge to head toward Excutive Boulevard is a nightmare. (It is) bumper to bumper.”
Huber Heights City Manager Rob Schommer said the city added a turn lane on Merily Way and adjusted the timing of the light at the intersection of Merily and Old Troy Pike to mitigate the backup of traffic.
“We have absolutely considered the traffic,” Schommer said.
Sparks said the turn lane on Merily has helped alleviate some of the problem.
“With that being said, people block the intersection so the turn lane can’t turn,” Sparks said. “It makes you stuck at the light for two lights sometimes. I don’t have a resolution off-hand. But adding other restaurants is going to make it worse. Sometimes I wish there was some sort of bypass.”
Clifford Koss, a resident of Huber Heights, said he has seen cars block that intersection many times.
“You just sit and sit and sit,” Koss said. “It’s great that these new businesses are coming to town, but traffic is a real issue. And everyone agrees with me.”
Schommer said the city can’t ensure there won’t be delays on the road, and doesn’t want to drastically change the number of cars on Old Troy Pike.
“The traffic is what draws businesses to that area,” he said, “and existing businesses count on traffic coming through that area.”
There will be no left turn lane into the new Starbucks, Schommer said, because of traffic concerns. The new Starbucks, which will include a drive through, will be built on the tract of land that formerly housed Cadillac Jacks at 7720 Old Troy Pike.
“Yes, there will be more traffic there, but we are working to mitigate it the best we can,” Schommer said.
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