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Safety, job hopes linked to road work

A mile-long stretch of Ohio 235 to be widened north of New Carlisle.

New Carlisle Chrysler, Jeep, Dodge Sales Manager Debra Huelsman is optimistic about the Ohio 235 widening expected to begin in spring next year. She said a planned center turn lane for the roadway from Galewood Drive in New Carlisle north to Sugar Isle Golf Country in Pike Twp. will increase traffic flow into the city and make it less stressful for customers and employees turning into and out of the dealership, owned by Chris Tobey, as traffic does now.

Bill Lackey/Staff Photo New Carlisle Chrysler, Jeep, Dodge Sales Manager Debra Huelsman is optimistic about the Ohio 235 widening expected to begin in spring next year. She said a planned center turn lane for the roadway from Galewood Drive in New Carlisle north to Sugar Isle Golf Country in Pike Twp. will increase traffic flow into the city and make it less stressful for customers and employees turning into and out of the dealership, owned by Chris Tobey, as traffic does now.

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By Mark McGregor, Staff Writer 10:23 PM Friday, February 10, 2012

NEW CARLISLE — A project to widen Ohio 235 and add a center turn lane along the sites of two potential industrial parks is expected to start next year on the city’s north side.

The more than $2.35 million project is the result of a study that indicated the turn lane would increase safety along a nearly mile-long stretch from Galewood Drive north to Sugar Isle Golf Country in Pike Twp., state officials said.

New Carlisle initiated the widening to the northern city limit after receiving grants from several sources, City Manager Kim Jones said. The Ohio Department of Transportation decided to expand the project north into Pike Twp., she said.

“The area has some good established businesses,” Clark County Commissioner John Detrick said of the mix of retail, manufacturing, service and health care that flank the road.

“We would like to grow more in that direction.”

One proposed industrial park on the west side of Ohio 235 is actively moving forward and will likely start after the road widening, Jones said.

Honeycreek Investment Co. co-owners and brothers John and Jim Bobo think the widening will make their 38-acre tract just north of DayView Care Center attractive to industry.

The lifelong New Carlisle residents purchased the land as Honeycreek Investment Co. about 6 years ago in a long-term project.

When the economy stalled, interest from companies fell off.

“Five years ago, when things were really good, we actually had some interest and started doing some basic groundwork, and then things just fell apart,” Jim Bobo said. “The city of New Carlisle has been really helpful the whole way through.”

The Bobos hope their approximately 60 percent investment three years ago in an estimated $280,000 project to bring New Carlisle sewer and water to their frontage — along with the expected widening next year — will finally bring some interest to the land.

Acreage could support up to 150,000 to 200,000 square-foot buildings, and they hope to bring in 100 or more jobs to the city.

“We plan on staying here and would really like to see the community grow,” Jim said.

John Bobo is the owner of Mad River Steel that sits on the lot north of the potential industrial park. Jim Bobo owns Bobo Construction in the Park Layne area of Bethel Twp.

The second proposed industrial park is owned by Brubaker Capital, according to Clark County Auditor’s Office.

The plots are on the east side of Ohio 235 north of New Carlisle Chrysler, Jeep, Dodge, and has been vacant and ready for development for years, Jones said.

“Nothing is active there, but we see it as a potential industrial area,” Jones said. “It could be great for New Carlisle and we are excited about the potential.”

A representative with the investment company could not be reached for comment.

“I definitely think (the widening) will help make that area more attractive,” New Carlisle Mayor Lowell McGlothin said.

A center turn lane will make business at New Carlisle Chrysler, Jeep, Dodge safer and less stressful for those turning into and out of the dealership’s lot, Sales Manager Debra Huelsman said.

She said, at times, particularly during rush hours, there are backups on road as drivers try to turn left into the dealership. And, she said, people don’t slow down as much as they should coming south into town, causing stress for some customers and mechanics who use the route for test drives.

Jones said the city spent more than $13,000 on right-of-way acquisitions from three parcel owners within the city.

ODOT spent more than $31,700 in acquiring more rights-of-ways in the city and township, according to information from the city.

ODOT District 7 Spokeswoman Mandi Abner said right-of-way purchases are still under negotiation, but that it required a purchase of up to 10 feet from the property frontage.

Improvements also will be made to the curb, sidewalks and the storm sewer during the road project, Abner said.

The planning phase of the project began in November 2008. Construction is slated to begin in April 2013 and be finished by late fall, Abner said.

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