LICKING COUNTY, Ohio (WCMH) – A once quiet Licking County community is feeling the effects of construction related to the new Intel plant.
State Route 37 or Main Street in the Village of Alexandria runs right through town. Those who live and work in the area saud over the past eight to 12 months, they’ve noticed an increase in the number of dump trucks coming through.
Arrest made in shooting death of girl, 18, in northeast Columbus
“The truck traffic through town has become pretty unbearable,” said Jim Jasper, Maintenance Supervisor for the Village of Alexandria.
He said he sees the trucks daily, throughout all hours from morning until night. He said trucks driving through are nothing new, but the amount of dump trucks is. He was mayor when Intel’s plans were announced.
“Intel in itself is probably a good thing,” he said as a truck drove by. “There will be jobs there for our young people with degrees and the support companies making material for Intel will provide jobs for those students that go to work from a high school degree. Overall I think it’ll be a good thing if we can get there and not destroy our way of life in the meanwhile.”
Jerry Reese, another former village mayor, said he’s also noticed the increase in dump trucks. He lives right along Main Street.
“It’s like that all day long, constant flow, all the time,” he said. “Honestly I would like to see some changes but at this time I don’t know what they are, what they would be.”
The Village Spa is located near the traffic light on Main Street in the Village of Alexandria. Wendi Zigo, co-owner of the spa, said she sees and hears the trucks throughout the day as well. She also told NBC4 speed and some trucks trying to beat the light are concerns of hers.
“We know that our area is growing, we’re not going to stop that, but I would like to see them slow down. They go way too fast through town, we have elderly customers, there’s always kids out and around,” she said.
NBC4 spoke to the Village of Alexandria’s police chief over the phone. He said there have been trucks going too fast and the department plans to be looking out for insecure loads. The Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) is working on a study involving State Route 37. One of the reasons for it is the anticipated traffic demand associated with Intel, according to ODOT. Members of the public can share their input here.
Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NBC4 WCMH-TV.
Source Agencies
