Part of Branch Hill Guinea Pike one way for 30 days

MIAMI TOWNSHIP – For the next month, traffic on Branch Hill Guinea Pike from Glen Echo Lane to state Route 28 will be limited to one way, or southbound traffic only, as crews make $1.7 million worth of improvements to the busy road.

Weather permitting, the northbound lane will be closed through July 9, and a detour will take drivers from Branch Hill Guinea Pike to State Route 28 to Business 28 to Cook Road. Queenie Lane drivers also will be restricted to right turns only at that road’s intersection with Branch Hill Guinea Pike.

Improvements will include wider travel lanes, a new center turn lane and improved pedestrian access with a sidewalk along the eastern side of the road.

The project is scheduled to be completed by the end of August, said Rob Alfieri, administrator for the Clermont County engineer’s office. Until then, there will be limited access to about 30 homes and businesses in the construction area. He added buses serving several Milford schools also use Branch Hill Guinea Pike.

After June 15 – the project’s first Sunday – Ken Slaughter, pastor of Mt. Repose Baptist Church in the 6000 block of Branch Hill Guinea Pike, said he should have a better idea how the road work is affecting attendance at the church. First Baptist has been at its present location since 1959.

“I understand that there’s a tremendous amount of traffic coming up Branch Hill Guinea Pike, and I know that at times, the traffic is backed up,” Slaughter said. “This probably is something that’s going to be good in the long term, but it’s going to be tough for us to make it in the summer. For two months, I’m just going to pray that people have the determination to come to church.”

The Branch Hill Guinea Pike project is one of more than a dozen the Clermont County Transportation Improvement District, a governing body established in June 2006, is currently working on. The district takes the lead in working with local jurisdictional partners, as well as other county, state and federal agencies to identify, develop and secure money for transportation improvements that support local and regional economic development.

Representatives of the Clermont County engineer’s office say the improvements are part of a coordinated regional plan to address travel needs for residential and commercial property owners.

“Everything we do is for the purpose of improving travel in Clermont County,” Clermont County Engineer Pat Manger said. “Whether it’s major roadway work like the improvements taking place in the Eastgate area, or smaller scale improvements like the work on Branch Hill Guinea Pike, our focus is to improve safety, ease congestion and expand access to business and shopping for all who travel through this area.

Manger said road crews “appreciate drivers’ patience as they travel through various work zones, and remind them to slow down and use caution in these areas.”

For information about other Clermont County Transportation Improvement District projects, visit the GoClermont.org website.

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