| Won't a direct route to I-71 divert more traffic to I-71? |
 | No. A direct route serves traffic desiring to go from Wilmington to northbound I-71, but not traffic desiring to go southbound on I-71. A direct route doesn't meet the Purpose and Need as well, removing 53 percent of traffic from downtown east of US 68, but only 26 percent west of US 68. (This traffic study was actually done with the connection to I-71 at SR 134. In reality, the new interchange would need to be at least a mile farther east to meet interchange spacing requirements. Moving the connection farther east would mean it would serve even less of the traffic desiring to go southbound on I-71.) It also doesn't serve Wilmington and Clinton County residents traveling from the west side of Wilmington to the east side, and vice versa. |
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