A new exit on Interstate-75 is coming to Liberty Township.
Local and state agencies are working to secure funds for a new interchange at Millikin Road and I-75, between the Hamilton-Liberty Way and Monroe-Lebanon exits.
The project would replace an existing two-lane bridge with a five-lane Millikin Road bridge over I-75, add both north and southbound exit ramps and ideally set the stage for new commercial development near the freeway, local officials said.
The area surrounding Millikin Road and I-75 is mostly undeveloped or residential. The plan is for that space to become a center for jobs and commerce, Caroline McKinney, Liberty Township administrator, said. The interchange will make more space available for those kinds of developments.
Here’s what to know about the project.
What will the new I-75 exit look like?
The project will include:
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Exit lanes on both I-75 North and South.
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Roundabouts at Butler-Warren Road and Cincinnati-Dayton Road.
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A diverging diamond design, similar to the Union Center Boulevard Interchange in West Chester.
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Five lanes of traffic on Millikin Road from Butler-Warren to Cincinnati-Dayton Road, with a bike lane on one side and a sidewalk on the other.
When will construction start?
The project is expected to cost $40 to $50 million, Dan Corey, director of the Butler County Transportation Improvement District, told The Enquirer. Construction will start once funding is secured.
First, the Butler County Transportation Improvement District, which is leading the project, has to get the land rights for the area. The district will start that process, which could take up to two years, in 2025.
Construction itself should take around two years. Commuters on I-75 should see minimal impact from construction, Corey said, but it’s too early to tell.
No funding for construction has been secured. McKinney expects these funds will be granted for the project:
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$3.5 million in federal funds, requested by Ohio Rep. Warren Davidson.
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$8.5 million from the One-Time Strategic Community Investment Fund, requested by Ohio state Sen. George Lang.
What’s next for the area?
The interchange is the first step in making the area a “jobs and commerce center,” McKinney said. It will free up more than 700 acres in Liberty Township for commercial development.
The area is currently sandwiched between two I-75 shopping centers – Liberty Center and the Cincinnati Premium Outlets.
For drivers, project leaders say the interchange will decrease traffic congestion and shorten commutes.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Major Cincinnati freeway I-75 to get a new exit. What to know
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