CCCRD efforts are currently concentrated on the proposed State Route 73 bypass around the City of Wilmington.  The issue: the proposal for the bypass does not adequately address what CCCRD believes are CURRENT Clinton County needs.  Further the bypass proposal appears to have serious flaws with respect to SAFETY, efficient TRAFFIC FLOW,  INFRASTRUCTURE impact, and ENVIROMENTAL impact.  Please explore the following areas for more information:

Are your county commissioners acting in a responsible manner?  Go to: (click here)

For the bypass layout and comments see our maps.  To view & print (click here) 

ODOT's Wilmington bypass -- disaster in the making. (click here) for file downloads.
A current article written to inform Clinton County residents on 'real' bypass issues as well to pose questions which remain unanswered.

State Route 73 Bypass Proposal -- The Truth. (click here)
What most Clinton County residents don't know !

State Route 73 Bypass Proposal -- History. (click here)
Where Clinton County officials and are planning to build the bypass.

State Route 73 Bypass Proposal -- The Answer??? (click here)
Does the current bypass proposal meet Clinton County needs ? 

Bypass Solution --  A CCCRD look at a viable option. (click here)
Consider a solution directed at the current needs and future interests of Clinton County.

The Bypass Issue -- WHY build this road?? (click here)
The current proposal issues and questions.

Additional Investigation/Analysis (downloads).  (click here)    Download documents and presentations for further study.

State Route 73 Bypass Proposal -- The Truth

The bypass proposal, identified by ODOT (Ohio Department of Transportation) as CLI-SR 73-6.20) appears effective in that a certain amount of heavy truck and commercial traffic as well as some local traffic is diverted away from the downtown Wilmington area.  However, the proposal does not adequately provide for efficient and safe traffic flow on State Route 73 and US Route 68 N.  Actually, traffic flow and safety problems would be relocated from the downtown area outward to State Route 73 (Mitchell Rd. to I-71) and US Route 68 N (edge of Wilmington to I-71).

ON STATE RT. 73 (west) AND US RT. 68 (north) TO I-71 :

SCHOOL BUSSES WILL STOP AND GO WITH BYPASS TRAFFIC

LOCAL RESIDENT TRAFFIC WILL STOP AND GO WITH BYPASS TRAFFIC

EMERGENCY VEHICLES WILL STOP AND GO WITH BYPASS TRAFFIC

LOCAL FARM EQUIPMENT WILL STOP AND GO WITH BYPASS TRAFFIC

ON SR 73 AND US RT. 68, WOULD YOU AND YOUR FAMILY  BE COMFORTABLE INTERACTING WITH BYPASS TRUCK TRAFFIC (AS PROPOSED) DURING YOUR DAILY TRAVEL TO and FROM SCHOOL, TO and FROM WORK, SHOPPING, ETC.?

PLEASE !  SERIOUSLY CONSIDER YOUR FUTURE QUALITY OF LIFE AND THE BEST FOR THE FUTURE OF CLINTON COUNTY.  GET INVOLVED, FIND OUT WHAT YOU CAN DO TODAY !  (click here)

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State Route 73 Bypass Proposal -- History

Various proposals for a bypass around Wilmington have been debated since the 50s.  All have generated vigorous, concerted, and successful opposition among the citizens of Clinton County.  However, the present climate has been so altered by concern for the economic future of the county, that there is no longer any serious opposition to a bypass.  The question now in the minds of Clinton County citizens is “What kind of bypass is best for all the affected parties?”

In October 2002, the Clinton County Commissioners proposed, debated and unanimously adopted, in one session, the proposed route for a bypass around Wilmington, Ohio, known as “Alternative 4.”  This route is very similar to two of the four routes (called Alternatives 1, 2, 3, and 3a) considered and unanimously rejected in 1999.  The rationale cited at the time was that the proposed routes were too close to Wilmington and would limit growth.  What happened in the meantime to cause this dramatic change?  The answer is DHL.

DHL is a prominent logistics company that took over the Airborne Express ground operation in 2003.  DHL considered moving the entire operation to their facility at Cincinnati-Northern Kentucky International Airport.  Airborne is the largest employer in Clinton County.  Moving the operation to Kentucky would have been a blow to the economy of the state of Ohio and a catastrophe for Clinton County.  An intensive campaign was launched at the local and state levels with significant help from the Ohio congressional delegation to keep DHL in Wilmington.  A part of the incentive package that was offered to DHL was a bypass around Wilmington.

This question has received astonishingly little public debate.  The “Alternative 4” route (which has evolved into the current proposal, ODOT CLI-SR 73-6.20), was proposed by a Clinton County Commissioner.  The route was debated for less than one hour before the commissioners voted for adoption.  This action is precipitate and not founded in sound business and engineering practice.  This decision will cause huge shifts in property values and the quality of life for the people of Clinton County.  Before deciding such an important issue, public officials owe their constituents a thorough investigation of the advantages and disadvantages of ALL the viable alternatives.

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State Route 73 Bypass Proposal -- The Answer???

The current bypass proposal is based on and derived from outdated studies and outdated data (see bypass history).  CCCRD contends that any viable solution must be a result of current studies of the problem and relative current data.  Further, Clinton County Commissioners have NOT even updated the "Purpose and Needs" statement / document which is the detail description of the problem (traffic congestion /  traffic safety problems in downtown Wilmington?).  Can ODOT display documentation for complete and thorough planning, current comprehensive studies, and current comparisons for ALL viable bypass options or concepts?  CCCRD is currently unable of verify ODOT's documentation for complete and thorough planning relative to the "refined alternative" 5A & 5B SR 73 bypass proposal.

Additional detail issues and thoughts about the current bypass proposal:

• The only way for I-71 trucks or other traffic to use the "refined alternative proposal" bypass is by using existing US and state two (2) lane highways, serious safety and traffic flow problems.
• Requires extensive upgrade & maintenance over four (4) miles EACH of existing SR 73 AND US 68.  (Upgrades = straighten curves, level hills / dips, add turn lanes, add traffic control devices, etc.)
• Bypass traffic (from / to I-71) will encounter ten (10) intersections with highways and local roads – all traffic flow and safety problems.
• Bypass traffic (from / to I-71) will encounter numerous private / business driveways / entrances along existing SR 73 AND US 68 – all traffic flow and safety problems.
• Bypass traffic (from / to I-71) will encounter all types of local traffic – passenger, school bus, farm equipment, emergency, etc.) – all traffic flow and safety problems.
• Will tend to promote and simplify the route around the I-71 weigh scales for northbound heavy truck traffic.  More trucks will have easy access to US 68 northbound, which currently is traffic saturated and dangerous.
• Only provides for routing SR 73 trucks and US 68 trucks around the downtown area.  Does not, in any way divert traffic away from SR 73, US Rt. 22 & St. Rt. 3, & US 68.