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By Marvin Jones
President and CEO
The intersection of North Bridge Street at the U.S. 35 interchange barely nudged out the East Main Street and U.S. 23-35 intersection as the busiest place for Ross County in 2010. That’s despite an 8 percent decline since 1994.
According to the most recent traffic count figures from the Ohio Department of Transportation, 38,550 vehicles a day travel the number one route in Chillicothe, a decline from 42,970 in 2006. At the Main-23-35, the count was 38,170 on U.S. 23 in 2010, down from 43,970 four years prior.
The impact of the completion of the widening of U.S. 35 to four lanes was evident as the count for the highway at the Fayette County line jumped 124 percent to 8,320 a day in 2010 from 3,720 in 1994. At Richmond Dale, the count went from 6,770 to 12,780, an increase of 89 percent.
Traveling north on Bridge Street, traffic goes from 28,810 at Riverside Street before the bridge to 38,550 at U.S. 35, then down to 26,860 at Pawnee Road (Tim Horton’s), 20,500 at the entrance to the Chillicothe Mall and Zane Plaza, to 15,740 at Kenworth Road to 5,280 at both Ohio 180 and the entrance to Kingston.
Below are the traffic counts for selected spots in Chillicothe and Ross County and their change since 1994:
| Traffic count comparisons for Ross County |
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Pct |
| Intersection |
2010 |
1994 |
Diff |
| Ohio 159 (Bridge Street) at U.S. 35 |
38,550 |
41,950 |
-8.1% |
| U.S. 23 and 35 at East Main Street |
38,170 |
28,560 |
33.6% |
| U.S. 35 at High Street |
29,070 |
24,340 |
19.4% |
| Ohio 159 (Bridge Street) at Riverside Street |
28,810 |
27,060 |
6.5% |
| Ohio 159 (Bridge Street) at Pawnee Road |
26,860 |
29,040 |
-7.5% |
| Ohio 159 (Bridge Street) at Mall and Plaza entrance |
20,500 |
21,600 |
-5.1% |
| Ohio 159 (Bridge Street) at Main Street |
20,250 |
17,780 |
13.9% |
| U.S. 50 (Western Avenue) near Dun Road |
17,780 |
18,960 |
-6.2% |
| U.S. 23 at Pike County line |
16,900 |
15,030 |
12.4% |
| Ohio 104 (High Street) at Vine and Buckeye |
16,580 |
14,090 |
17.7% |
| U.S. 50 (Main Street) at Paint Street |
15,370 |
18,010 |
-14.7% |
| U.S. 50 (Western Avenue) at Polk Hollow Road |
15,120 |
13,320 |
13.5% |
| U.S. 35 at Richmond Dale |
12,780 |
6,770 |
88.8% |
| U.S. 50 (Western Avenue) at High and Main streets |
12,140 |
14,400 |
-15.7% |
| Ohio 104 (High Street) at U.S. 35 |
10,900 |
15,560 |
-29.9% |
| U.S. 35 at Fayette County line |
8,320 |
3,720 |
123.7% |
| Ohio 159 (Bridge Street) at Hospital Road |
7,680 |
7,170 |
7.1% |
| Ohio 772 (Paint Street) at southern city limit |
6,540 |
8,070 |
-19.0% |
| Ohio 104 (High Street) at Water Street |
5,340 |
9,720 |
-45.1% |
| Ohio 159 at Kingston |
5,280 |
4,150 |
27.2% |
| U.S. 50 at Bainbridge |
4,170 |
5,090 |
-18.1% |
| Ohio 28 at Maple Grove Road |
2,590 |
3,220 |
-19.6% |
| Ohio 180 at Ohio 159 |
2,280 |
2,300 |
-0.9% |
| Ohio 207 at Clarksburg |
1,200 |
1,550 |
-22.6% |
| Ohio 138 at Clarksburg |
1,030 |
1,080 |
-4.6% |
| Source: Ohio Department of Transportation |
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Paccar, parent of Kenworth Truck, and Glatfelter notched nice gains in their financial situations in the first quarter of 2011 while USEC’s results suffered from handing off the cleanup of the former gaseous diffusion plant near Piketon to Fluor-B&W Portsmouth.
Paccar’s revenue jumped 47.2 percent in the quarter while profits increased 183 percent as demand increased for its Kenworth and Peterbilt trucks. The company also announced recently it plans to expand employment at its engine plant in Mississippi from its current 160 and it plans to invest $200 million building a new truck plant in Brazil. The local Kenworth plant is expected to add a total of about 700 employees this year as it increases its build rate.
Glatfelter’s net income was $17.4 million in the first quarter compared to a loss of $400,000 a year ago. Earnings were 84 percent higher. Operating income for the Specialty Products division, of which the Chillicothe plant is a big part, increased 40 percent on higher selling prices, further operating efficiencies and better demand, according to the company. Glatfelter also plans to buy back $50 million of its shares. The buyback “is a clear reflection of our continued confidence in Glatfelter’s strategic direction and our ability to generate consistently strong free cash flow,” said Dante Parrini, president and CEO.
USEC had a net loss of $16.6 million in the quarter compared to $9.7 million a year ago. President and CEO John Welch blamed the loss on the cleanup contract transition as well as electricity costs to operate the Paducah gaseous diffusion plant.
Get more customers by using all features of your chamber membership
One chamber member had 142 other chamber members take a look at his special credit card processing offer last year. Another member had 123 take a look at the special offer for a recent Sunday buffet. Another member has had no fewer than 45 responses to each of its seven offers in the past six months.
All of these members used the easily accessible and free “Member Deals” feature and benefit of their chamber membership. On Friday, May 20, the chamber is hosting the first of its “Use us. Please!” workshops to familiarize members with the many features available to them to get more customers. It will last no more than an hour, but will be an opportunity for members to get to know how to navigate the benefits of their membership.
In addition to the Member Deals, topics will include email blasts, mailing lists or labels, networking opportunities and discounts on health insurance and workers’ compensation premiums. If you’d like to attend this first session, register online: click here.
Roundtable expanded to all small businesses
This week’s Emerging Businesses Roundtable pointed out the need to expand the forum to any small business or anyone wanting to start a business in the region. Nine took part in the initial discussion in the chamber conference room Tuesday along with representatives from co-sponsor SCORE, OU-C and others.
The renamed South Central Ohio Small Business Roundtable next will meet on Tuesday, June 7 at the chamber with a short presentation and then an opportunity for those attending to talk about issues affecting their businesses. If you’d like to check it out, register online: click here.
In addition to the monthly forums, all small businesses are invited to join the accompanying LinkedIn group where participants can post questions or pose issues for discussion. To become a member of the group, click here.
Get your foursome together for the chamber’s outing on June 3
The rolling, some might call hilly, Valley Vista Golf Course outside of Bainbridge is the host for this year’s chamber outing on Friday, June 3. Registration starts at 8 and play at 9. Snacks and beverages will be available all day long. Plenty of door and skill prizes will be handed out as well as players enjoy a steak meal afterward. It’s all included in the $75 per player fee. If you can’t make the outing, but would like to offer a door or skill prize or sponsor a green, give Rosie a call at 702-2722 to make arrangements. Click here to register to play.
More news to note:
- Photos from the April Business After Business at Adena Mansion and Gardens co-sponsored by Fluor-B&W Portsmouth are available online and for downloading: click here.
- Beginning this fall, Ohio University-Chillicothe is offering a master’s degree program for teachers. Informational sessions are set for Bennett Hall Room 131 at 4:30 p.m. on both Thursday (May 12) and Tuesday, May 17. Call Cindy Hartman at 740-593-4464 or email her at hartmanc@ohio.edu for details.
- Certified Nurse Practitioner Pamela Knisley is now on the staff at Adena Urgent Care on Western Avenue. She completed her master’s degree at Otterbein University.
- Identity theft is the topic for the next workshop by The Schwemlein Group of Janney at 37 W. Second St. Officer Bud Lytle from the Chillicothe Police Department is the presenter. It’s set for Wednesday, May 18 at noon. Call Tammy Arledge at 773-2163 if you plan to attend.
Vendors licenses issued recently by the Ross County Auditor:
- Buckeye Service Center, 35253 U.S. 50 Londonderry.
- Dogwood Hills Golf Course, 1193 Debord Road.
- Dennewitz Pools and Construction, 215 W. Valley Drive.
Stonecreek Dental Care, which cut the ribbon on its new facility on North Bridge Street next to Aldis Monday, is inviting the community to its grand opening this Saturday from noon to 2. Former OSU football coach John Cooper will be on hand for photos and autographs and food from the Old Canal Smoke House and Maggie’s Cupcakes will be available.
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