Owen Countians may soon have a new road to Interstate 75 — well soon in a relative sense.
For the first time ever, the reconstruction of Hwy. 22 East toward Grant County has been included in the state’s six-year road plan. Released last week, the plan includes the design phase of the project in 2009.
But if Owen’s state representative and senator have their way, the project will be moved up.
“I think the project will stay in the road plan, but I’m not pleased with the fact it’s scheduled for 2009,” said Rep. Royce Adams. “I hope that I can move it up.”
“We might try to see if we can move that up a year to be in the current biennum’s budget,” added Sen. Damon Thayer.
The road plan includes $1.5 million for the design portion of the project and will extend from the current road project that ends at the high school to Hwy. 845, a distance of 4.7 miles.
The cost for design for the entire project from the high school to Dry Ridge or Williamstown, depending on the chosen direction of the road, would have been in the range of $5 million.
“We decided to break it up and go that route, thinking we’d be able to get it in the plan quicker,” Adams said.
He added that through discussions with Grant County Judge-Executive Darrell Link, he and Thayer agreed that the project should begin in Owen County.
“It would be impossible to get the money for the entire project,” he added. “I’m thrilled that it’s there. The only thing we’ve had so far was the scoping study four years ago.”
“It’s a good start,” added Thayer. “But it’s a long process to even get to construction.”
Also included in the road plan is the reconstruction of the intersection of Hwy. 22 and Squiresville Road. The road plan includes $865,000 for reconstruction of the project this year.
Thayer said it was originally scheduled to be done last year, but some issues still remain with securing right of way for the project.
The Hwy. 22 project was the number one road project county officials asked Adams and Thayer to concentrate on this year. Another request was funding for the completion of the gas line project.
Adams said it won’t be known for several weeks whether those funds are available. He said the House should vote on the budget next week and after that it will go to the Senate for approval. During the Senate’s work on the budget, they will determine if funds will be bonded for infrastructure projects like the gas line project around the state.
“We have no idea if the infrastructures will get funded at this point,” Adams said. “Damon and I have both committed that we will work to get those funds for the project.”

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