Cincinnati approved appropriations for Colerain project

Cincinnati City Council has approved unanimously an ordinance allowing for the appropriation of land for the Colerain-Virginia-West Fork intersection improvement project in Northside.

The property to be acquired is located on the northeast and southwest corners of the intersection, currently occ
upied by a drive thru and a tire shop, respectively.

The $4.9 million project will include:

* Wider lanes on the Colerain Avenue northbound approach
* An additional left-turn lane from Virginia Avenue
* New pavement, curbs and sidewalks
* New signals and lighting
* Improved storm drainage

The realignment will also allow West Fork Road and Virginia Avenue to share signal phasing instead of working independently of one another.

Previously mentioned in related documents - but not mentioned in the ordinance - is a turn-of-the-century apartment building at the corner of Virginia and Chase avenues.

The building, which is owned IB Property Holdings of Miami, has been ordered vacant by the City and will likely continue to deteriorate until its inevitable demolition.

That case is currently in housing court.

Thirty-three thousand motorists, pedestrians, buses and bicyclists use the intersection daily.

The project is expected to begin in spring 2009.

Previous reading on BC:
Ordinance would appropriate land for Colerain-West Fork project (6/12/08)
Council to acquire property for Colerain-West Fork-Virginia improvements (10/29/07)
Northside: Colerain-West Fork-Virginia improvements (4/11/07)