Warren County engineers are drafting a long-range road plan for the county's northern tier, an area that has absorbed roughly 100,000 new residents over a quarter century.
The first phase of the North Warren County Transportation Plan examines roads from southern Turtlecreek Township to the county's northern boundary. Among the questions under review are whether east-west travel can be improved and whether new links could be created between I-75, which runs along the county's west side, and I-71 on the east. County Engineer Kurt Weber said the county has few connections between the two interstates and that studying whether that can change is a priority.
Truck traffic through Lebanon also surfaced as a resident concern. Michael Saracina, who lives in the city, said the volume of trucks is among his biggest worries and that he would prefer to see some of it shifted north. Weber said diverting truck traffic out of Lebanon is one of the plan's goals.
Residents offered input at an open house on Wednesday night, and an online survey is available for those who could not attend. That feedback will inform the first phase, which officials aim to finalize by July before moving to a second phase. Weber described the work as forward planning so infrastructure is ready for growth rather than an immediate construction program.