MOUNT VERNON — As traffic congestion is an ongoing concern around the city of Mount Vernon, numerous improvement projects have been considered to ease the city’s traffic flow. One such project is an on-going effort between and the city and township officials to improve the turns on Eastern Star New Gambier and Upper Gilchrist roads.
“We would be interested in working closely with Monroe and Pleasant townships in making an improved corridor through there,” Mount Vernon Mayor Richard Mavis told the News.
The move for a connector road between Ohio 229 and Upper Gilchrist Road was previously attempted but never gained suffucient support to move forward.
“We feel these roads should be improved,” said Mavis of New Gambier and Eastern Star roads as well as Upper Gilchrist Road. “A grant request that would be supported by the townships, the city of Mount Vernon and Knox County would be an opportunity for us to get some Public Works money to do that. But, I think we’re a ways away from having the compatibility where we can all sign off on it. I believe there is some discussion that would lead us in that direction. But it might be a few years away. There has not been any discussion with the townships about annexation.”
Only two private properties remain in Pleasant Township on New Gambier Road since prior annexation, according to Pleasant Township Trustee Chad Sims. Although there is currently no discussion of plans concerning any annexation, “I would like to see a possible connector road go in,” he told the News. “But I think it’s not going to happen now.”
