George Floyd (Photo from George Floyd’s profile on Facebook.)
Miami Township, Ohio – Loveland Magazine reported yesterday that members of the Epiphany United Methodist Church plan to stop traffic by kneeling in the roadway in silent prayer during rush hour on Friday.
Google Map
Their plan is to kneel and pray for 8:46 minutes at the intersection of Branch Hill-Guinea Pike and Loveland-Miamiville Roads at 6 PM, the amount of time Minneapolis Police officer Derek Chauvin kneeled on George Floyd’s neck before he died, “…and the many victims before him who have lost their lives to injustice.”
This is the Kroger/Walgreen/United Dairy Farmers intersection.
Miami Township, Ohio – The press release sent out by Lisa Kerwin, a Pastor at Epiphany United Methodist Church says, “On Friday, June 19, Epiphany and other SW Ohio UMC congregations will stop traffic by kneeling in silent prayer, offering peaceful protest and witness for 8:46 minutes to respectfully mark the tragic death of George Floyd and the many victims before him who have lost their lives to injustice.” The plan is to shut down roads at 6 PM this Friday afternoon.
The events are apparently planned around the region, however, the location for the civil disobedience in the Loveland area is the corner of Branch Hill-Guinea Pike and Loveland-Miamiville Roads. This is the Kroger and Walgreen intersection.
The press release calls it a “Peaceful Witness” event and further says, “The Miami Township Police Department and surrounding businesses are invited to attend and/or participate as a show of support.”
Lisa Kerwin is the Pastor of Care Ministries at Epiphany United Methodist in Miami Township. (Church Photo)
Loveland Magazine asked Kerwin, “Have you been given permission by Miami Township Police to shut down the road? Are people prepared to be given citations or go to jail?”
Kerwin responded Friday via email by saying, “We are not going to be arrested. We have police support. They will be there!!”
Loveland Magazine reached out to Miami Township Police Chief Mike Mills, and asked him if the organizers had been given permission to shut down this intersection. He responded this morning saying, “We, the police, cannot give permission to shut down the intersection. There is a process through the Township Government to apply for permits, but it is not a quick process.” Mills said that Kerwin had met with him and that they are reconvening this week to discuss logistics and a plan for a peaceful protest.
Mills added, “We are working with them to keep everyone safe and encouraging a peaceful protest in the right-of-way and the not the roadway.”
Miami Township Police Chief Mike Mills (Township Photo)
Loveland Magazine also asked the Chief, “According to the release, your department has been invited to ‘participate’. Will you or any of your officers join? Will you allow your officers to participate?”
Mills responded this morning by saying, “We will be there to make sure everyone is safe. Sometimes bad actors show up in support of one side or the other and distracts from the cause.”
When asked for his reaction to a plan to shut down the roads, Mills said, “We will support their 1st Amendment Right.”
Miami Township, Ohio – Branch Hill-Guinea Pike reopened to two-way traffic on Saturday. Crews now will move into the final phase of work for the Branch Hill-Guinea Pike widening project, which is expected to last through the fall. During this phase, there will be intermittent, temporary lane closures. The press release issued by the Clermont County Transportation Improvement District said that they do not expect any full-time road closures or detours within the project area.
This week, our focus will be on widening several areas and installing an intermediate layer of asphalt (weather permitting). Then, we’ll work on sidewalks, driveways, and final paving and striping.
This is still an active construction zone. Please remember to slow down and be mindful of work crews and construction vehicles moving in and out of the area.
For more information about this project, visit this website.
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Road closure on the southern end of Branch Hill-Guinea Pike and Weber Road will remain in place through Saturday, Sept. 15.
Info provided for access to Boyd E. Smith Elementary School
Miami Township, Ohio – The Clermont County Engineer has provided an update on the widening work taking place on Branch Hill-Guinea Pike from Bridle Path Lane to Jer-Les Drive.
“Weather and unexpected underground utility issues have extended the length of time crews will need to safely open Branch Hill-Guinea Pike to two-way traffic,” said Engineer Patrick Manger. “As a result, the current road closure on the southern end of Branch Hill-Guinea Pike and Weber Road will remain in place through Saturday, Sept. 15.”
The Branch Hill-Guinea Pike widening project will add a center turn lane and paved shoulders on Branch Hill-Guinea Pike, as well as a sidewalk along the east side of the road from Bridle Path Lane to Jer-Les Drive. Drainage improvements also will be made. In addition to the roadway work, improvements will be made at the intersection of Branch Hill-Guinea Pike and Cook Road/Weber Road, including upgraded traffic signals and the addition of designated turn lanes.
During this time, permissible traffic movements will be:
Right turn only from Branch Hill-Guinea Pike to Cook Road
Left turn only from Cook Road to Branch Hill-Guinea Pike
Access to the nearby Boyd E. Smith Elementary School will be open as usual from the south end of the project. Parents and staff will be able to access Jer-Les Drive from the south end of Branch Hill-Guinea Pike via SR 28.
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Manger added:
Crews are moving as quickly as possible to complete work to support the long-term safety of the community and reiterated that the work on Branch Hill-Guinea Pike has multiple components that will improve safety and travel in the area. A new center turn lane will support smoother travel and help to reduce potential accidents by separating turning traffic from through traffic. The addition of a new sidewalk will provide safer pedestrian access in the area, and drainage improvements will enhance stormwater management along the road and in the surrounding subdivisions.
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Detours will be put into place for through traffic
Batavia, Ohio – The Clermont County Engineer’s Office today announced “safety and access improvements” that will take place along Branch Hill-Guinea Pike from Bridle Path Lane to Jer-Les Drive, as well as the related traffic impacts during the course of the project.
The Branch Hill-Guinea Pike widening project will add a center turn lane and paved shoulders on Branch Hill-Guinea Pike, as well as a sidewalk along the east side of the road from Bridle Path Lane to Jer-Les Drive. Drainage improvements also will be made. In addition to the roadway work, improvements will be made at the intersection of Branch Hill-Guinea Pike and Cook Road/Weber Road, including upgraded traffic signals and designated turn lanes.
The project will be completed in three phases:
Phase 1 is expected to last approximately five weeks, from June 4 through July 9. During Phase 1, work will take place on the northern end of Branch Hill-Guinea Pike and Cook Road.
Phase 2 is expected to last approximately five weeks, from July 9 through Aug. 15. During Phase 2, work will take place on the southern end of Branch Hill-Guinea Pike and Weber Road.
During both phases, a detour will be put into place for through traffic. Access within the project area will be maintained for local property owners only.
Phase 3 of work will take place from Aug. 15 through the fall but will not result in full-time road closures. All roads will be reopened to through traffic with only minor temporary closures taking place as crews complete the final pieces of the project.
Clermont County Engineer Pat Manger said that the work on Branch Hill-Guinea Pike has multiple components that will improve safety and travel in the area. “A new center turn lane will support smoother travel and help to reduce potential accidents by separating turning traffic from through traffic,” said Manger. “The addition of a new sidewalk will provide safer pedestrian access in the area, and drainage improvements will enhance stormwater management along the road and in the surrounding subdivisions.”
Miami Township Administrator Jeff Wright highlighted the project team that is working together to support the improvements saying, “The Branch Hill-Guinea Pike widening project is being completed in partnership with Miami Township, Milford Schools and the Clermont County Transportation Improvement District to improve access to Boyd E. Smith Elementary School and support safer travel along Branch Hill-Guinea Pike. The safety of our local students and their families is one of our highest priorities, and the township is pleased to work with the school district and the county to ensure we continue to provide better connections and service to our residents.”
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