<body><div><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=4X41Ac_1GuAmkwy00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=4X41Ac_1GuAmkwy00" width="800" height="450" >PLAIN TOWNSHIP, Ohio (WSYX) — Road safety is a big concern for Plain Township woman Ester Bravard as construction continues in the area due to incoming data centers.ABC 6 On Your Side has been following traffic complaints from residents over the last couple of months.<img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=3C2dB4_1GuAmkwy00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=3C2dB4_1GuAmkwy00" width="800" height="450" >Bravard says she's had some close calls due to traffic congestion near her home at the intersection of U.S. 62 and Walnut Street.<blockquote>"Turning left. My highest that I've waited was 15 minutes." Ester Bravard</blockquote>She's recorded videos of the backups to share her frustration.<img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=3bg7Ve_1GuAmkwy00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=3bg7Ve_1GuAmkwy00" width="800" height="450" >"One night, we were going to soccer for my son and we went across and it made someone mad that was going, you know, the other way. So they turned and followed us for over a mile and laid on their horn until we got to the soccer fields," she says.She moved to the area in 2019 for peace and quiet, saying there was “barely any traffic” when her family arrived."We wanted to see the stars at night, and we wanted some land," Bravard stated.Bravard says she started noticing traffic issues about a year ago so she started reaching out for help. She contacted the Ohio Department of Transportation, the city of New Albany, the Franklin County Sheriff, the Franklin County Engineer's Office and Plain Township.Bravard says the Franklin County Sheriff's Office told her, "nothing is going to be done until they widen the road and decide if they’re going to put a roundabout in two years. He told me to wait," she said. The sheriff's office shared with ABC6 News the liaison deputy for the area is aware of the congestion and has been in communication with the township. They shared that they have not seen an increase in crashes in the area. Bravard says that doesn't provide much comfort because the traffic, she says is also making her two kids late to school due to delayed buses.<img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=2DSmJT_1GuAmkwy00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=2DSmJT_1GuAmkwy00" width="800" height="450" >When asked about how late, she replied, “10 or 15 minutes. so it’s not a huge deal. but it still shows they can’t do what they’re supposed to be doing. which is get the kids to school on time.”New Albany-Plain Local Schools says they are aware of the challenges and stress that students who experience these school bus delays won't be held accountable. The district says students can be late for a number of factors and wouldn't attribute it all to just construction or congestion. They said it could it could be traffic accidents that can hold up buses, weather-related issues and more.ODOT tells ABC6 News they evaluated whether a four way stop at the intersection of 62 and Walnut could serve as an interim safety measure. However, they say adding something like this could cause more significant traffic issues and wouldn't be appropriate due to the difference in volume on both of these roadways. ODOT says they're working on a corridor study to see how they can make the stretch between New Albany and Johnstown function better. In addition to that, the city of New Albany says it recently assigned a traffic engineer to analyze traffic patterns in the area. "We still have to identify funding sources, what the projects would be. We are still a long ways away from having everything recommended in that study potentially be done," said Matt Bruning with ODOT.<blockquote>"There are talks of all kinds of intersection improvements along that corridor, whether it be roundabouts, signals, signal timings." - Matt Bruning</blockquote>The City of New Albany says more than $200 million has been planned to address current and future transportation needs.However, Bravard says the fixes can't come soon enough for the people living in the area. She says she fears for her life when she crosses the intersection near her home."Yes, I do, because, people are like, short tempered about it," said Bravard. "So they get mad, and they like honk or they don't slow down and get scary. And then, yeah, just having to drive around and maneuver, and when it's still dark, makes me uneasy."Bravard says for now, she'll turn right at the intersection and then loop back around just to be safe. The city of New Albany says the reconstruction of Green Chapel Road and Jug Street are expected to be substantially completed by the end of this year. The city says the same goes for the construction of a new east/west roadway between Clover Valley Road and Mink Street. The Licking County Transportation Improvement District continues to provide project updates on its website. The Intel construction project is expected to last through 2031..</div></body>

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PLAIN TOWNSHIP, Ohio (WSYX) — Road safety is a big concern for Plain Township woman Ester Bravard as construction continues in the area due to incoming data centers. ABC 6 On Your Side has been following traffic complaints from residents over the last couple of months. Bravard says she's...

Data center construction raises intersection concerns in Plain Township

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PLAIN TOWNSHIP, Ohio (WSYX) — Road safety is a big concern for Plain Township woman Ester Bravard as construction continues in the area due to incoming dat

Data center construction raises intersection concerns in Plain Township

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