The Ross County Thoroughfare Plan is being updated again.
Monday morning, the Ross County Commissioners heard a public hearing on hoped-for improvements to the county's roads and major city streets. It's not a list of projects that are planned out, but areas of concern identified by the county Planing Commission - and that information can help get action.
In his presentation, county planner Devon Shoemaker said this is "this is the plan to plan." He said the Thoroughfare Plan is a "living document," and this is the fourth update since its creation in 1998.
The plan should also be presented to Chillicothe Council in March. Of the ten major proposed improvements in the county, seven focus on greater Chillicothe. They are:
Interchanges & Intersections
1) Improving the High Street intersection at Buckeye Street.
2) Trying to get ramps to connect west US 35 with north US 23
3) A roundabout on US 50 at Veterans Parkway
4) Making the half-interchange between US 35 and Pleasant Valley Road, near Egypt Pike, a full interchange
Roadway / Corridor Improvements
5) Signal and lane improvements, pedestrian and bicycle access, and a connector road on Bridge Street (already in the planning sages by the state)
6) Widening far Western Avenue and encouraging access roads instead of curb cuts (a 2017 study allows this to easily go to the planning stage)
7) Pro-active planing or widening of SR 159 beyond US 23
8) Improving Rocky Road and part of Marietta Road as a connector over the hills
Extensions
9) Extending Industrial Drive in the industrial park near Frenchtown, and possibly a traffic light on SR 104
10) Extending Massieville Road to Three Locks Road so several connections with US 23 can be closed
Kevin Coleman reports on local government and culture