Several road projects are underway and others will start within the next two months in Blue Ash ... below offers a summary of those projects. Please be cautious when driving through these construction areas and obey the posted speed limit signs and detours to avoid injury to workers in the area or to your vehicle. Questions regarding any of the projects below should be directed to the Public Works Director's Office at (513) 745-8538. 

BLUE ASH/HUNT ROAD IMPROVEMENT PROJECT

The total reconstruction of Blue Ash Road has been underway since January and is on schedule to be completed by December 1st. This project will also reconstruct a portion of Hunt Road from West Avenue east to the railroad tracks. The Blue Ash City Council awarded the project to CJ & L Construction. This project is being partially financed via a no-interest loan granted to the City through the State Capital Improvement Program (SCIP).

The project is necessary to replace a deteriorating roadway and storm sewer system. In addition to the replacement of roadway, curbs, driveway aprons, portions of driveways and a majority of the sidewalks will also be replaced. Additionally, the contractor will install a 16" water main on Blue Ash Road to replace the 80 year old 12” main currently in operation.

The contractor completed all roadway and water main work south of Ronald Reagan Highway on August 1st. This section of Blue Ash Road is open. Hamilton County also replaced the surface course of asphalt on Blue Ash Road from our south City Limit to E. Galbraith Road, resulting in a smooth ride from the Ronald Reagan Highway bridge to Galbraith. The contractor is currently making the water service connections to the new main on the section of Blue Ash Road north of Ronald Reagan. Replacement of curbs, sidewalks and driveways in this area will commence after these service connections are completed. Detours are posted for north Blue Ash Road to ensure the safety of motorists and workers.

The next phase of the project will require complete closure of the portion of Blue Ash Road that includes the bridge over Ronald Reagan Highway north just past the driveway access to the Cincinnati Spine Institute (a distance of approximately 400 feet). This closure will begin at approximately 8:00AM on Sunday, September 7th through approximately Noon on Monday, September 15th. This phase of the project is necessary to remove and replace the pavement. As part of this road closure, please note the following:

• No traffic will be allowed on this section of Blue Ash Road, as well as the Blue Ash Road access ramp from westbound Ronald Reagan Highway.
• Detours will be posted for all through traffic. Kenwood and Hunt Roads will be used as the primary detour route.
• Access to the Cincinnati Spine Institute will require motorists to enter from Kenwood Road.
• Access to Steelcraft and Land Rover Cincinnati on Blue Ash Road will be available only from the south.
• Blue Ash Road south of the Ronald Reagan Highway bridge is complete and is open to traffic.

As work progresses, the project will require the closure (to through traffic) of Blue Ash Road and Hunt Road in phases through the duration of the project. Local traffic may experience delays and we suggest motorists avoid this area if possible to minimize inconvenience. Please also note the following:

• Detours will be posted for all through traffic during the phased road closures.
• Local and emergency access to homes and businesses will be maintained at all times, including access for school buses and garbage trucks.
• For business properties, an alternate access will be provided if the blockage exceeds one hour.
• Repeated blocking will allow at least a 15-minute interval of traffic access every hour.
• Duration of residential driveway closures will be limited to two times in a two week period. Distance that residents must park during the drive closures will not be more than 200 feet.

 BLUE ASH ROAD WATER MAIN PROJECT

Greater Cincinnati Water Works (GCWW) installed in 2007 a new 36” transmission water main down Blue Ash Road and on Cooper Road between Blue Ash Road and Kenwood Road. All work on this portion of the 36” water main was completed prior to Memorial Day, including the rehabilitation of Cooper Road. The City of Blue Ash will completely replace and reconstruct Blue Ash Road as part of the Blue Ash/Hunt Road Improvement Project as listed above.

The 36” water main project is scheduled to continue in Fall 2009, extending the water main down Cooper Road past the east City limit. This water main will eventually be extended to Montgomery and possibly to Mason to provide a reliable source of water for all cities in this area. 

ARCADIA SUBDIVISION WATER MAIN PROJECT

GCWW began work in January to replace all the service main lines through the entire Arcadia subdivision on the east side of Kenwood Road, ranging from Myrtle Avenue on the south to Prospect Avenue on the north. The project was awarded to the Fred A. Nemann Company. Construction of the water main was completed in May. Restoration of the roadway is scheduled for completion by the end of August. Paving work was delayed at the request of the City to allow other work in the area to be completed. Residents in the area will be notified prior to the start of roadway restoration. During the roadway restoration, on-street parking will be restricted to allow the paving crews access to the roadway. 

FLORAL AVENUE AREA WATER MAIN PROJECT

GCWW began work in February to replace all service main lines through the Floral Avenue area, including the side streets. Work is now complete. This project was also awarded to the Fred A. Nemann Company. Restoration of the roadway will be completed in conjunction with the roadway work in the Arcadia Subdivision. During the roadway restoration, on-street parking will be restricted to allow paving crews access to the roadways. 

PLAINFIELD ROAD WATER MAIN PROJECT

GCWW began work in late July to replace the water main on Plainfield Road from Glendale-Milford Road to Creek Road, including work within the intersection of Glendale-Milford and Plainfield. Work in the intersection will be completed on weekends to minimize the impact on traffic. This project will be completed by the Fred A. Nemann Company. Restoration of the roadway will occur after the water main is installed through a contract with the City of Sharonville. Plainfield Road north of Glendale-Milford will be completely resurfaced.

The project will require the closure (to through traffic) of Plainfield Road in phases through the duration of the project. Local traffic may experience delays and we suggest motorists avoid this area if possible to minimize inconvenience.

TRAFFIC SIGNAL UPGRADES

The City of Blue Ash is working to upgrade the traffic signals throughout the City from incandescent lights to LED (light emitting diode) lights. The LED lights use significantly less electricity, last longer between failures, provide brighter signals and support battery back-up systems at major intersections. Many intersections have been upgraded over the past few years and the following intersections will be completed in 2008:

• Reed Hartman Highway at Cooper Road (recently completed)
• Reed Hartman Highway at Glendale-Milford Road
• Reed Hartman Highway at Plainfield/Peppermill
• Kenwood Road at Zig Zag Road (also adding southbound left turn signal)
• Pfeiffer Road at BP station

 2008 STREET PROJECT

The 2008 Street Project was awarded to Barrett Paving Materials, Inc, by the Blue Ash City Council on July 10, 2008. Work will begin at the end of August and will be completed by October 31, 2008. Some work will occur at night to lessen the impact on motorists. Various types of preventive maintenance and rehabilitation will occur, including crack sealing, microsurfacing and milling with asphalt overlay. Additionally, the contractor will repair damaged curb areas, rebuild deteriorated catch basins and construct curb ramps in some areas. The following streets are scheduled for preventive maintenance and rehabilitation work:

• Reed Hartman Highway from Glendale-Milford to 900’ north of Creek Road
• Reed Hartman Highway from Cooper Road to Peppermill Lane
• Plainfield Road south of Ronald Reagan Highway
• Kenwood Road south of Ronald Reagan Highway
• South end of Mohler Road
• Crack sealing will occur on Cooper Road from Reed Hartman to Blue Ash Road, Hunt Road from the Ronald Reagan off ramp to West Street, Deerfield Road at the Cornell intersection, Millington Court, McKinley Road, Mohler Road and Williamson Road.

Traffic will be maintained on all roadways, but lane restrictions will be required when work is underway. Motorists may expect delays during construction and we strongly suggest motorists avoid these roadways during construction, if possible, to minimize inconvenience. 

PLAINFIELD/REED HARTMAN HIGHWAY CORRIDOR

City Engineers are looking closely at the Reed Hartman Highway/Plainfield Road corridor, ranging from the City’s southern corporate limit and north to the Glendale-Milford/Reed Hartman intersection. Major road, bridge, and intersection improvements may be recommended for this area in future years. Shorter-term improvements for the Plainfield/Hunt intersection area were incorporated within the 2007 Street Repaving Program and included changes such as lane reconfiguration and modifications involving repainting/striping of the pavement. 

  <Back to top>