When you thought Loveland’s downtown traffic couldn’t get worse…

May 27, 2015

Traffic delays are expected so Loveland Station Apartment residents will…

hear-no-evil

(CORRECTION: The map below has been corrected to show that the utility lines will be moved to the other side of St. Rt. 48 – not Broadway Street.)

Loveland, Oh. – City officials have announced that utility and median work will commence in Historic Downtown Loveland.

These Loveland tax-payer funded projects were promised to the developer of the Loveland Station Apartments, CMC Properties. [quote_box_right]Would you like to receive Loveland Magazine’s morning Email with headlines of our latest stories about Loveland?[/quote_box_right]

One is to create a “Quiet Zone” in Historic Downtown so renters of the “luxury, high-end” apartments won’t hear the train whistle from the tracks adjacent to the development. The other obligation is to bury and move overhead utility lines so renters won’t be able to see them from their apartment window views.

Underground conduit installation on Broadway St. between SR 48 and Karl Brown Way was to begin on Tuesday, May 26. The work is expected to last in that location for two to three weeks, then transferring the crew to do similar work on West Loveland Ave. between SR 48 and Grear Millitzer.

Utility lines on Broadway adjacent to the apartment complex, will be relocated to the opposite side of the street.

Throughout the summer Duke Energy, Time Warner, and Cincinnati Bell will be relocating their utilities in the area.

Following the underground utility work, two permanent concrete medians will be installed as part of a railroad quiet zone project. These barriers are designed to prevent vehicles from zigzagging across the railroad tracks on West Loveland Avenue with trains approaching and the gate arms lowered.

Construction on West Loveland Ave. will be restricted to the hours of 9 AM. to 2 PM. when possible according to the City. After local schools are out of session, work hours are expected to be extended to 9 AM to 4 PM.

During work hours, only one lane will remain open, with flaggers directing two-way traffic. Traffic delays are expected. According to a press release issued by the City, “Please allow extra time to reach your destination. Thank you in advance for your patience.”

For more information about these projects you can contact Cindy Klopfenstein, the City Engineer, at 683-1050 or by e-mail at cklopfenstein@lovelandoh.com.

dtn-construction-2

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Comments

5 responses to “When you thought Loveland’s downtown traffic couldn’t get worse…”

May 29, 2015

Lovelander

I would add to Gregg’s comments regarding planning ahead and exercising patience – for those who do not live right in the area or do not need to come to the area, PLEASE take alternative routes instead of adding to the downtown congestion. Those of us who live there have few or no options other than forcing our way through the mess, so if you don’t have to contribute to it (and suffer from it!), please don’t.

I would also disagree with TMH’s statement that the loss of a lane on West Loveland Ave. has been “great” for businesses. Sure, there is outdoor dining/drinking space but at the same time, the traffic and parking problems have placed great constraints on these businesses and their potential customers. Not to mention the fact that if you choose to sit outside you have to take in the constant traffic racket (can we enforce the noise laws with the Harley owners, please, Loveland??!!) and smell, which are really not conducive to a conversation.

Thanks for adding to the scant details provided in last week’s e-mail newsletter from the city, David, and for the very helpful visual of the planned work. Is the structure that is going up in the southwest corner of the development (adjacent to the bike trail, south of the Running Spot) part of the “quiet zone” plans? I don’t recall a 3rd building being planned for that area, and the concrete that’s in place doesn’t look sufficient for a building’s footprint – but maybe a garage or storage?

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May 29, 2015

Gregg Hothem

Utility work started on SR48/Second Street just north of West Loveland Ave yesterday. Traffic reduced to one lane with a flagger. At 3 pm, traffic was backed up on West Loveland and both directions on SR48. It will be a tough summer for Loveland traffic. Everyone needs to plan for it by leaving a few minutes earlier and practicing a little bit of patience.

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1. May 29, 2015
  
  PD
  
  I’ll just be bypassing it altogether. Might be slightly longer than my normal drive but it’ll be better than banging my head on the steering wheel. Anyone who can avoid the area should just to make it easier on those who have no choice.
  
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May 27, 2015

TMH

I hope those “permanent concrete medians” don’t make it harder/impossible for trucks to get through there since they already can’t take Broadway because of the train trestle. Loveland seems to be incapable of thinking through traffic implications of projects in historic Olde Loveland. They want to be bigger than the space they actually have available to them, and are going to make it happen regardless of the outcome. I’m glad they are taking the utilities underground, and the few weeks of inconvenience associated with that will be manageable. My concern is for the long term traffic problems that will be created. The first constraint was implemented years ago when they eliminated a lane in each direction on West Loveland. We all see how well that has served us… Great for the businesses along that stretch (I do love the patio space they have now), terrible for getting around down there. Let’s see what the next round brings us.

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May 27, 2015

PD

Good. As a loveland taxpayer, I’m glad. Downtown will look much better with some of the rats nest of wires buried. This is all good for everyone’s property value.

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