The nine-member Transportation Review Advisory Council proposed delaying some of the state’s largest construction projects by decades .
But Champaign County’s proposal of a U.S. 68 bypass that would connect Dallas Road to Ohio 55 was removed entirely from a list of state projects.
Fereidoun Shokouhi, who has advocated for the project for more than a decade, said he will continue to fight for it and described it as crucial to the county’s chances to encourage development in the future. Many other local officials said the project has been stalled for decades, and the chances of it moving forward now are remote.
Shokouhi said he plans to continue pressuring local and state legislators to advocate for the roughly $54 million proposal. It would connect Dallas Road to Ohio 55 near the city of Urbana’s corporate lines, providing travelers better four-lane access to I-70.
“The only thing we see is our fight is getting a little bit harder than before,” Shokouhi said.
Local officials have sought to increase interstate access to the county for more than 50 years. The project was close to moving forward decades ago but was stalled because of concerns the added road could cause environmental damage to Cedar Bog, a historic nature preserve about four miles south of Urbana. Since then, it has faced issues ranging from a lack of funding to tepid support from state legislators.
But Shokouhi, who has been an advocate for the project for more than a decade, said it will become increasingly difficult to attract new industry to the county in the future without access to the interstate.
Shokouhi said, “You cannot sell a house if you cannot offer access to it.”
Officials in Urbana said the city will have decisions to make soon. Marty Hess, president of the Urbana City Council, said the city began setting money aside about 15 years ago to help contribute its share of a project to increase interstate access.
The city still has about $500,000 set aside in capital funding, and the city will likely discuss its next step in the coming weeks.
Hess said the city has managed to move forward without a bypass for decades and has little choice but to plan ahead with the understanding it will not happen soon.
“I have my doubts that we’ll see it for a long time,” Hess said.
Bill Bean, Urbana’s mayor, said council members will likely discuss the next step at an upcoming work session.
The city could divert the money to another capital project, keep it in reserve in case there is an unexpected change in the proposed U.S. 68 project, or move forward with a project of their own.
Bean said if necessary, the city could use the funding as seed money for a separate project linking Ohio 55 to North Edgewood Avenue, ultimately linking with Ohio 296.
Although Bean said he refuses to call the state’s project dead, city council members will ultimately have a large role in deciding what comes next for the city.
Other local officials said the project would benefit the county, but it has already been on hold for decades, and the prospects of moving forward are now even more slim.
Bob Corbett, Champaign County commissioner, said development typically follows major freeways.
“You’re not going to see a lot of development without the prospect of a highway,” he said.
Corbett said the county has focused primarily on agriculture and will continue to do so moving forward if necessary.
Marcia Bailey, who is serving roles as both the interim director of the Champaign County Chamber of Commerce and Urbana’s economic development coordinator, said some of the city’s businesses, such as Rittal or Honeywell, would likely see some benefits from increased interstate access.
She said the project has been discussed for so long, she would simply like to see a result one way or another so the county could move forward.
“I just wish something would happen one way or another so people could put it out of our minds,” Bailey said.
Despite the fact that generations of public officials have advocated for the state project to move forward, Shokouhi said he will continue to argue for the economic benefits of the project.
“This is not an emotional issue,” he said. “It’s a practical issue that is very important to this community.”
Contact this reporter at (937) 328-0355.
About the Author