LEBANON — A transportation study is examining possible new connections between Interstate 75 and Interstate 71 across northern Warren County, and residents can weigh in at a public open house Wednesday evening in Lebanon, according to the Warren County Engineer’s Office.
The study is being conducted by the Warren County Engineer’s Office and the Warren County Transportation Improvement District, in partnership with the Ohio-Kentucky-Indiana Regional Council of Governments and the Miami Valley Regional Planning Commission. The study team says it evaluated existing travel conditions in the northern part of the county — including congestion, safety and freight patterns — with input from local stakeholders.
Several options have been identified as potential locations for a new connection between I-75 and I-71, according to the project announcement. The team stresses that the options show general locations only, not final alignments, and that public feedback will help select a few of them to evaluate in the study’s next phase. The study area covers Carlisle, Franklin, Springboro, Monroe, Lebanon and Middletown, along with several villages and townships.
“We welcome the public’s input on this impactful project,” Warren County Engineer Kurt Weber said in the announcement. “We’re aware of the lack of connections between I-75 and I-71 and safety concerns on key roadways and this study is the first step towards addressing the situation. Public input is a critical component for the success of the project, and we encourage everyone to learn more about it and provide feedback.”
Speaking directly to NewsForce247.com, Weber said: “While Warren County has good north/south connectivity with I-75 and I-71, there aren’t as many good west/east connections throughout the county. We are exploring potential new and/or improved west/east connection concepts. We are also looking at locations with safety concerns throughout the northern part of the county. We’re asking the public to provide feedback on these potential concepts and any additional ideas or transportation improvement concepts they have. The input we receive from the public will be invaluable in helping us shape the future of the transportation network in northern Warren County in the next 25 years.”
Beyond the possible interstate connections, the study has identified 10 roadway locations as high priorities for improvements, including intersections, curves and interchanges. The team is asking the public how those locations could be improved, which ones should be prioritized, and whether other locations should be added — residents can mark suggestions on regional maps at the open house and online.
The open house runs Wednesday, Oct. 28, from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. at the Warren County Career Center, 3525 OH-48 in Lebanon. It is a drop-in format; residents can arrive anytime during the two hours. A virtual viewing of the same options and materials will be published on the project website on the meeting date for those who cannot attend in person.
A public comment survey is also posted on the project website, northwarrencountytransportationplan-burgessniple.hub.arcgis.com, from Oct. 28 through Nov. 17. Comments can also be sent directly to Weber, who serves as project coordinator, at [email protected] or 513-695-3306, or by mail to 210 West Main St., Lebanon, OH 45036. All comments must be received by Nov. 17, 2026, according to the announcement.
Photo: formulanone, CC BY-SA 2.0