New bottlenecks: The tangled 12 - enquirer.com bottlenecks: The tangled 12 Traffic in our region can...

New bottlenecks: The tangled 12Traffic in our region canbe a mess. From Masonto Taylor Mill, from ButlerCounty to BataviaTownship, newbottlenecks have beencreated by rapid growth,busy lifestyles and evenroadwork that’s supposedto alleviate traffictroubles. We askedreaders, highwayengineers, trafficwatchers and electedofficials to name theworst offenders of dailygridlock. Here is the dirtydozen of bottlenecks thatyou would be wise toavoid — if you can.

A B C

WaymanBranch Rd.

Hands Rd.

TAYLOR MILLKy. 16 (Taylor Mill Road)Clogged for years, this road isdue for a major overhaul — andit’s long overdue. Residents can'twait.DRIVING TIP: Don’t even thinkabout turning left when headingsouth during rush hour.

OrphanageRd.

Kyles Ln.

HighlandAve.

Dudley Rd.

BUTLER CO.

Hamilton-Mason Rd.

Michael A. FoxRegional Hwy.

YankeeRd.

Tylersville Rd.

FAIRFIELD/HAMILTONRiver Road entrance to Joyce ParkAn easy suburban drive turns togridlock on weekends during thespring and fall youth soccerseasons. All those minivans andSUVs full of players and theirfamilies create backups that canlast nearly an hour.DRIVING TIP: On soccer weekends,take Ohio 4 to head north or south.

WEST CHESTERHamilton-Mason Roadat Cincinnati-Dayton RoadThis is what happens when newlanes are added to crowdedroads: Traffic eases for a while,then backs up as more vehiclesuse the new roads.DRIVING TIP: For now, you're stuckwith it. But turn lanes intoproposed subdivisions areplanned.

WEST CHESTERTylersville RoadWill this road ever be free ofcongestion? And now, more retailand commercial developmentsare planned. This road proves thatcommuters pay the price forgrowth.DRIVING TIP: Give yourself anextra 10 to 20 minutes whenusing Tylersville Road.

WILDERAA Highway at I-275Construction kept motorists at bayfor a long time. But waits to geton the interstate, especially forwestbound travelers, can still belong.DRIVING TIP: When heading norththrough Campbell County it mightbe best to take U.S. 27 to I-275and avoid this bottleneck altogether.

FORT WRIGHTKy. 17 (Madison Pike)As southern Kenton County hasgrown, so have traffic snarls.DRIVING TIP: With a new Wal-Martcoming, if you don't have to takethis route, don't.

Cox R

d.

Dayto

n R

d.

Tylersville Rd.

Mason Rd.Hamilton-

Cinc

inna

ti-

Butle

r-War

ren

LickingRiver

Mt. Zion Rd.Mt. Zion Rd.

UNIONIntersection of Mount Zion Roadand U.S. 42Relief could be coming when arebuilt U.S. 42 opens next year.But as in other growth communi-ties the new road will bring newgrowth and new traffic congestion.DRIVING TIP: Traffic to and fromnearby Ryle High School and GreyMiddle School often is anelementary lesson in commuting.Try to stay away when classes aregoing in and out.

Cam

pErn

st Rd.

Conner R

d.

North

Ben

d Rd

.

BURLINGTONCamp Ernst and Pleasant Valley roadsTwenty years ago this was a quietcountry crossroads. Now, major,expensive work is needed toaccommodate the rapid BooneCounty growth.DRIVING TIP: So manysubdivisions are out this way thatresidents can’t really avoid thetraffic.

HEBRONNorth Bend Road north of I-275Commercial and industrialdevelopment have followed lots ofnew residents. The congestiondidn’t happen overnight — it justseems that way.DRIVING TIP: Stay alert. Con-gestion isn’t as big a problem assafety.

GREEN TOWNSHIPRyboldt Rd./Harrison Pike at I-74A new shopping center thatfeatures Meijer and Kohl’s hasattracted more traffic to an alreadybusy corridor.DRIVING TIP: Evening rush houris the worst. If you get off thehighway here, you sit here. Beprepared.

Wesselman Rd.

Harrison Pike

Eben

ezer

Rd.

Rybo

lt Rd

.

Indi

ana

RookwoodCommons

RookwoodPavilion Edmondson

Rd.

Madison R

d.

Edwa

rds

Rd. Markbreit

Ave.

Williams Ave.

Wasson Rd.

NORWOODRookwood CommonsBackups are so intense here thatpolice officers are sometimesneeded to direct traffic. It's goodfor shops, a headache forshoppers.DRIVING TIP: Stay away fromMadison Road, and you'll stayaway from the biggest backups.

NORWOODRookwood CommonsBackups are so intense here thatpolice officers are sometimesneeded to direct traffic. It's goodfor shops, a headache forshoppers.DRIVING TIP: Stay away fromMadison Road, and you'll stayaway from the biggest backups.

E

WILDERAA Highway at I-275Construction kept motorists at bayfor a long time. But waits to geton the interstate, especially forwestbound travelers, can still belong.DRIVING TIP: When heading norththrough Campbell County it mightbe best to take U.S. 27 to I-275and avoid this bottleneck altogether.

FTAYLOR MILLKy. 16 (Taylor Mill Road)Clogged for years, this road isdue for a major overhaul — andit’s long overdue. Residents can'twait.DRIVING TIP: Don’t even thinkabout turning left when headingsouth during rush hour.

GFORT WRIGHTKy. 17 (Madison Pike)As southern Kenton County hasgrown, so have traffic snarls.DRIVING TIP: With a new Wal-Martcoming, if you don't have to takethis route, don't.

HUNIONIntersection of Mount Zion Roadand U.S. 42Relief could be coming when arebuilt U.S. 42 opens next year.But as in other growth communi-ties the new road will bring newgrowth and new traffic congestion.DRIVING TIP: Traffic to and fromnearby Ryle High School and GreyMiddle School often is anelementary lesson in commuting.Try to stay away when classes aregoing in and out.

IBURLINGTONCamp Ernst and Pleasant Valley roadsTwenty years ago this was a quietcountry crossroads. Now, major,expensive work is needed toaccommodate the rapid BooneCounty growth.DRIVING TIP: So manysubdivisions are out this way thatresidents can’t really avoid thetraffic.

J

HEBRONNorth Bend Road north of I-275Commercial and industrialdevelopment have followed lots ofnew residents. The congestiondidn’t happen overnight — it justseems that way.DRIVING TIP: Stay alert. Con-gestion isn’t as big a problem assafety.

K

GREEN TOWNSHIPRyboldt Rd./Harrison Pike at I-74A new shopping center thatfeatures Meijer and Kohl’s hasattracted more traffic to an alreadybusy corridor.DRIVING TIP: Evening rush houris the worst. If you get off thehighway here, you sit here. Beprepared.

L

LittleMiamiRiver

Cincinnati-Batavia

Clough Pike

Amelia

-Olive

Branc

h

DBATAVIA TOWNSHIPAmelia-Olive Branch Road betweenOhio 125 and Clough PikeHere's one of the best examplesof a two-lane, rural road morphingfrom serene to stressful asthousands of new residents havemoved in. The worst is yet to come:Hundreds of new homes areplanned.DRIVING TIP: With two schoolsnearby, this is one to avoid whenthe morning and afternoon bellsring.

AB

C

D

E

FGH

I

J

K

L

275

7175

275

74

471

71

75

7571

74

275

275

322

4227

127

128

126

28

132

50

32

12552

505052

8

237

9

2717

16

25

42

18

OHIO

KENTUCKY

Ohio River

Rive

r

125

FAIRFIELD

4

127

129

275

129

Cincin

nati-

Day

ton

Rd.

Princeton Rd.

75

MASON75

42

BATAVIA

AMELIA

LittleMiamiRiver

132

AMELIA125

NORWOOD OAKLEY

HYDEPARK

71

TAYLORMILL

275

FAIRVIEW

9

Licking177

Licking

AA16

River1930

Taylor Mill Rd.TAYLORMILL

Old TaylorMill Rd.

16

Taylor Mill Rd.

275FORT

WRIGHT

Mad

ison

Pike

275

Mad

ison

Pike

17 16

Ave.

Mad

ison

Pike

1072

1072FORT

WRIGHT

71FORT

WRIGHT

7175

FLORENCE

7142

536

75

127

42

237

UNION237

18

3168BURLINGTON

HEBRON

Hamilton Co.

Michael A.GreatMiamiRiver

River Rd.

JoycePark

Fox Hwy.

Butler Co.

Butler Co.

Butler Co.Warren Co.

Warren Co.

Butler Co.

Hamilton Co.

Clermont Co.

Campbell Co.

Kenton Co.

Boone Co.

Clermont Co.

KentonCo.

CampbellCo.

BooneCo.

BooneCo.

Boone Co.

561

Cinti./N. Ky.Intl. Airport

275237

North

Ben

d Rd

.20 Petersburg Rd.

DENT

GREENTOWNSHIP

Harrison Pike

74

CINCINNATI

Nilles Rd.

Rd.

Forest Lake Ln.

Clough Pike32

Taylor Rd.

Rd.

Clough Pike

W. Main St.

Rd.

WILDER

Cam

p Er

nst R

d.

Valley Rd.Valley Rd.

237

Pleasant

CampErnstLake

CampErnstPark