Sanders
CLAYTON — City council passed a resolution at its Oct. 3 meeting to submit an application to the Miami Valley Regional Planning Commission for ‘Congestion Mitigation / Air Quality’ funds for Phase II of the Hoke Road widening project from just north of the Wenger and Hoke intersection up to National Road.
In 2026 the first phase of the project will begin and includes a roundabout at the Hoke and Wenger intersection. The first phase involves approximately 1,400 feet of roadway from Smith Drive in Englewood to a termination point just north of the roundabout on Hoke Road.
Phase II would continue north to National Road and would involve approximately 4,500 feet of roadway.
“It is a very expensive project and after talking to the Miami Valley Regional Planning Commission today, they are suggesting we do the project in two phases as well, so Phase II would consist of Phase A and B,” said Randy Sanders, public service director.
“We were concerned about the logical termination of the widening but we found out that the new development on Hoke would be the perfect place to cut it off,” Sanders said, referring to the Grand Villas of Clayton on the west side of Hoke.
Sanders also noted that Phase II of the project, which was expected to start as early as 2028, won’t start until 2030.
“That is a long way down the road but we have to submit for funding to even receive the recommendation,” Sanders said. “I expect that we will get the recommendation. We have had a lot of good luck with MVRPC as well as with state grants.”
Councilmember Ryan Farmer asked if Sanders knew how much the city’s share of the project would be.
“We are looking at over $3 million for our cost with the project coming to a little over $7.3 million in grant money, which totals all of the grant money that we have received in the last 10 years,” Sanders noted. “We will be getting that much basically in one funding cycle, but it is a very expensive project.”
Sanders pointed out that there is a bridge involved in the project that would impact a high-pressure gas line located on Englewood’s side of Hoke, the east side, but Sanders talked to the gas company that advised moving the fence surrounding the gas line probably wouldn’t be an issue.
“That might save us some money because they were saying it might cost $1 million to relocate the gas line,” Sanders said.
The city already has all of the funding for Phase I of the project.
Mayor Mike Stevens stated that Phase II of the widening project is a big accomplishment for the city.
“This will be a major thoroughfare and development, whether or not you like development, that’s the way it’s going to go,” Stevens said. “It’s expensive but needed.”
Sanders noted that the city has had backing from ODOT since the beginning of Phase I of the project because when I-70 is shutdown motorists exit the intestate and use National Road as an alternate route.
“It is safety funding. ODOT likes the fact that this is one of the main corridors that they would like to see have walk ability and bike ability in place, so finishing that project, I think, is essential,” Sanders said. “You have Main Street, which is one big corridor, so I think this is going to be your second biggest corridor.”
Council unanimously approved the resolution to seek funding for the project.
Reach Ron Nunnari at (937) 684-9124 or email [email protected].
