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http://www.liberty-township.com/fw/main/Liberty_Interchange-1489.html
LIBERTY TWP. — While some people doubted the Liberty Way Interchange would actually be built, it will be dedicated on Oct. 7 — six months before the projected spring 2010 anticipated completion date.
The $42 million project will actually be completed at the beginning of October, said Ron Porter, Transportation Improvement District executive director.
“There’s still some restoration and seeding and mulching, but the roads can accept traffic by Oct. 1,” he said.
To complete the project in less than two years, Porter said, is “very impressive.” The project was funded by Liberty and West Chester townships and the Butler County Commissioners.
“That’s very unique that this is completely locally funded. It’s going to be a while before there’s an infrastructure project that can say that,” said Liberty Twp. Economic Development Director Caroline McKinney. “That speaks to the vision that the county and the two townships had eight years ago.”
The project was first talked about around 2000, and ground was broken in Dec. 2007.
“This is critical for the community, it’s critical for the residents it’s critical for the people we want to employ in this area,” McKinney said.
McKinney said the interchange will drive new possibilities for the township.
“This opens up 600 acres for commercial development in Liberty and some in West Chester as well. For Liberty Twp., we are very much encouraging the development,” she said.
Liberty Twp. administrator Dina Minneci said Cincinnati Children’s Liberty Campus came to the township because of the interchange.
“One thing we hear a lot out here in the booming suburbs is, ‘Why don’t you build the roads first before the development comes?’” Minneci said. “Here we are preparing for the future. This is the ultimate example of preparing for the future.”
With the interchange nearly open, Minneci said she and her staff can concentrate on developing the remaining 50 percent of the township in a controlled, responsible and sustainable way.
“Being a bedroom community, one of the biggest complaints we hear are property taxes,” Minneci said. “Business is one of those ways, one of the major contributors in helping to alleviate some of the property tax burdens, and we only have 18 percent of our township that can be built out commercial. That 18 percent must be the strongest, the most viable, the sturdiest.”
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