“The funding came from a mid-year solicitation and Hamilton was the only community within the TID that was able to quickly develop a project that was eligible to receive that funding,” Engineering Director Allen Messer said.
The intersection reconstruction project is happening in conjunction with Dallana Hybrid’s expansion, which will see the company build a new 100,000-square-foot building on Bell Avenue to provide space for three of its divisions. The Journal-News reported in January that the expansion will create 55 new jobs, eventually bringing the company’s total workforce to 116.
ExploreDalana Hybrid plans $15-20 million expansion project
To support the project, Hamilton earlier this year implemented a 60% Community Reinvestment Area Tax Abatement for 15 years.
The improvements are designed to support the growth of Dallana Hybrid and allow trucks to pass through an intersection that can confuse drivers. According to a city staff report, the existing signalized intersection at Dixie Highway and South Erie Boulevard (Ohio 4) is confusing to users, especially truck traffic. Dixie Highway occupies land that could be incorporated into the ongoing redevelopment in the area.
The primary improvement is the reconstruction of the Ohio 4 intersection, but the project also includes additional roadway improvements, including the reconstruction of 600 feet of Bell Avenue and the widening of 1,100 feet of Ohio 4 between Dixie Highway and Sims Avenue.
The road improvements and widening are expected to improve traffic and truck flow associated with the Dalana Hybrid facility and support the manufacturer’s site expansion.
Messer said the construction project is scheduled to begin in 2025. City of Hamilton officials met with representatives from the Hamilton School District and Hamilton Castor, key stakeholders in the area, and “both were very open to the reconfiguration,” Messer said.