Alex Road Traffic Study
The City of West Carrollton engaged engineering firm Strand & Associates in 2022 to evaluate the condition and potential improvements for S. Alex Road, last resurfaced between 1994 and 1996. The pavement has exceeded its useful life, and the current lane widths do not meet regulatory standards (9.5 feet in width, where 11 feet is required), complicating efforts to secure traditional resurfacing grants. Additionally, this stretch of roadway saw 289 crashes between 2017 and 2021, 29% of which were injury crashes. The study explored possible options for the roadway, and the City has narrowed the possible options down to two:
Option A: Reduce from five lanes to three, with a wide shoulder
Option B: Resurface the roadway in the current configuration
Key Points:
- Traffic volumes along S. Alex Road have declined by 40% since 2009.
- The current road has substandard lane widths and the pavement is past its useful life.
- A speed study showed that 50% of vehicles traveling in the corridor exceeded the speed limit.
- This section of roadway experienced 289 crashes between 2017 and 2021, 29% of which were injury crashes
Public Open House
West Carrollton Senior Citizens Community Center – 10 E. Central Ave.
Monday, June 2, 2025
5:30 – 7:30 PM
Join us to:
See design options and cost comparisons
Share your feedback and ideas
Ask questions directly to our project team
Your input matters!
Frequently Asked Questions
Why would the City consider a change from 5 lanes to 3 on S. Alex Road rather than simply resurface?
The current roadway configuration is overbuilt for our traffic flow and has substandard lane widths of 9.5 feet at most, where 11 feet is required. These narrow lane widths make obtaining traditional resurfacing grants difficult and have created certain safety issues.
Changing the lane configuration from 5 to 3 would result in wider travel lanes (11 or 12 feet), a center turn lane, and a wide shoulder on each side. This strategy, sometimes referred to as a “road diet”, has been successfully deployed on roadways that have average daily traffic (ADT) similar to S. Alex Road.
The City could be eligible for significant grant funding through the Federal Highway Safety Improvement Program administered by the Ohio Department of Transportation to modify the roadway configuration. If the City were to simply resurface the roadway as it is, we would not solve the issues created by the substandard lane widths, nor issues with speed. Additionally, we are unlikely to receive any outside funding.
Traffic counts (conducted in 2022 and 2024) show the reduced lanes can efficiently accommodate current and anticipated future traffic while improving safety.
If the lanes are reduced, how will it impact my commute?
Minimally. The traffic study shows that what is called the “level of service” will be maintained at its current function for all intersections along the corridor, including during peak travel hours. The level of service is a measure of traffic flow.
Will this make it harder to exit driveways?
No. If implemented, a 3-lanedesign would maintain and may improve driveway access.
How will school buses and delivery trucks be affected?
With a 3-lane design, traffic in both directions would have to stop for the school bus. This would be a change from the current configuration where only vehicles traveling in the same direction as the school bus have to stop. This may mean a few seconds of delay for drivers during bus pick-up and drop-off times.
Delivery vehicles are likely to use the shoulder. Drivers will be able to pass (when safe to do so) by using the center lane.
Will construction close the road?
We do not anticipate a need to fully close the road for construction of either roadway option. Construction will happen in stages to keep traffic flowing and minimize inconvenience.
For updates, visit this page regularly or contact Service Director Rich Norton at 937-847-4661.
