Fears are new bridge may imperil Little Miami status

By Dan Klepal
Enquirer staff writer

The National Park Service says building a bridge over the Little Miami
River as part of the $1 billion Eastern Corridor transportation plan could
knock the river out of the federal Wild and Scenic Rivers program.

That comment was one of many critical statements about the proposed bridge
over the Little Miami, which is protected under the federal program
because of its high water quality, natural beauty and abundance of
wildlife. The Little Miami is one of only a few urban rivers in the
country in the national program.

Park Service officials would like the engineers and planners involved with
the project to study expanding the Beechmont Levee crossing because they
feel it would do less damage to the environment than building a bridge at
Horseshoe Bend, south of Fairfax and Mariemont.

The comments are important because project managers have to answer those
criticisms before the Federal Highway Administration decides whether to
allow the project to proceed. A decision is expected by the end of June.

The project includes a relocated highway, a commuter rail system, bike
trails and expanded bus routes to better connect eastern communities with
downtown.

"Road and commuter rail traffic would pose major noise impacts, and the
road itself represents a significant visual intrusion to an otherwise
relatively natural setting," says the Park Service memo, written by Willie
Taylor, director of the Office of Environmental Policy. "A bridge crossing
the (river) would significantly and substantially interfere with the
scenic and recreational values. ..."

"We are troubled that (the plan) recommends a new highway crossing the
river in a new corridor, rather than using an existing crossing."

Transportation planners say the project is necessary to address safety and
congestion.

Diana Martin, a planning administrator with the Ohio Department of
Transportation, said expanding the Beechmont Levee crossing was ruled out
because it wouldn't solve transportation problems. A committee of 65
people representing business, environmental groups, commuters and
governmental leaders approved the idea of a new bridge. "It's silly to ask
us to go back and do engineering on an alternative that the public
wouldn't support," Martin said.

But Marilyn Wall applauded the memo. Wall represented the Sierra Club on
the committee, and was the lone vote against the new river crossing. A
representative of Little Miami Inc. abstained from voting.

"The Park Service has done a good job of evaluating and raising the issues
that were not adequately addressed in this process," Wall said.

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