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Thanks very much! Each of the Wyoming residents who spoke at the Ohio Dept. of Transportation public meeting on I-75 reconstruction held on Thursday, May 13, helped our efforts, and we appreciate your participation.

Vice Mayor Jim O'Reilly delivered the city's testimony, emphasizing our support for keeping the northbound I-75 exit to Galbraith Road open. ODOT assured us that yes, the exit is in the plan, it was on display at the public hearing, and will stay there while funding for constructon is requested.

Two news items for Wyoming are that the construction phase has been moved back from 2014 to 2020, because of the capital budget crunch that the state is feeling at present; and the plan finalizes the early discussion about an exit onto Millsdale/East Mills. The first is fine since it leaves the current exit open for now and reduces the urgency for obtaining construction funding during the recession.

The second aspect of the plan means that, with the closure of the 1950s downtown Lockland curved exit, those cars coming southbound off I-75 will enter Lockland at Wayne and Millsdale. The current traffic patterns would allow that auto traffic to flow across Millsdale/East Mills onto Burns (then heading through residential streets to the Pike or south on Burns through Hartwell).

It is good that we have 10 years before construction begins and perhaps 11-12 years before the exit is opened; Wyoming, Lockland and Hartwell will have time to cooperatively assess the best plans for traffic movement, to protect the residential streets from through traffic by cars (truck traffic will be turning onto Wayne Avenue, south to Vine or north to Wyoming Avenue). We will use the time to thoughtfully interact with the decision makers to protect the interests of our residents.

More state transportation plan data is at http://www.thruthevalley.com