Safety of Monroe Ohio 63 intersection at forefront as resident makes plea for awareness

City has spent thousands of dollars trying to reduce the number of accidents at three major intersections on the state highway.
A Monroe resident told City Council she's concerned about the number of accidents at the corner of Ohio 63 and Heritage Green Drive. RICK McCRABB/CONTRIBUTOR

A Monroe resident told City Council she's concerned about the number of accidents at the corner of Ohio 63 and Heritage Green Drive. RICK McCRABB/CONTRIBUTOR

A Monroe resident asked City Council to explore options to improve the safety at the Ohio 63 and Heritage Green Drive intersection.

Winona Cox, who has lived in the city for 20 years, told council members recently that safety measures need to be implemented to reduce the number of accidents.

Since 2020, Cox said 59 crashes have occurred at the intersection. While some of the crashes have resulted in minor injuries, Cox said earlier this year, a friend accidentally turned left from Heritage Green and drove into westbound traffic on Ohio 63 when she was hit head-on. The woman suffered many broken bones, according to Cox.

Cox suggested placing “Do Not Enter” signs that are more visible at the intersection, and adding painted turn lanes. She said the “Do Not Enter” signs that are there now are hard to see, especially at night.

Another suggestion was installing a flashing warning light to alert motorists that the light at 63 and Heritage Green is about to turn red.

The slight curve on Ohio 63 doesn’t allow motorists and semi-truck drivers traveling westbound enough time to stop before they enter the Heritage Green intersection, she said.

Cox said “it’s not if, but when” a fatal crash will occur there.

“It’s a very dangerous intersection,” Cox said after the meeting. “Something has to be done before it’s too late.”

Mayor Keith Funk thanked Cox for her concerns and said City Manager Larry Lester and Public Works Director Gary Morton will “see what solutions we can entertain.“

Public safety being addressed

The city has spent thousands of dollars trying to reduce the number of accidents at three major intersections on Ohio 63.

Last month, council approved a resolution authorizing Lester to enter into a professional services agreement with Verdantas (formerly CT Consultants) for engineering design services for signal safety improvements along Ohio 63.

“Public safety needs to be addressed,” Funk said after the June city council meeting.

The city received a design proposal from Verdantas for “critical safety improvements” to three signalized intersections along Ohio 63, according to city documents.

The improvements are based on recommendations from the corridor study completed in January by Burgess and Niple.

Project locations are Ohio 63 at Lawton Avenue, Ohio 63 at Main Street and Ohio 63 at Britton Lane.

The proposed safety improvements at the three intersections include: installation of supplemental near-side signal heads for eastbound and westbound high-speed approaches along Ohio 63; addition of back plates on vehicular signal heads for minor street approaches; and restriction of northbound and southbound right turns on red to enhance safety for slow-moving turning vehicles facing high-speed traffic, according to city documents.

The total project cost is $167,210 with the city responsible for the $26,500 engineering design fee with a grant from the Ohio Department of Transportation covering the remaining $140,710.

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