Dayton Could Put An "I" With U.S. 35!

Interstate 575 traveling through Dayton, Ohio could become a reality.

This normally doesn't come up in the discussion. But sometimes I want to talk about things that I often think about whenever I travel through the rust belt city of Dayton, Ohio.

I had this feeling today about the future of this city. I conclude this area in particular is doomed. I think that Dayton is on the verge of being a "ghost town".

The mayor Nan Whaley is trying to dismiss the notion of Dayton being a "ghost town".

She hopes that the latest developments help bring Dayton back to its glory.

Dayton has recently announced they were developing the Water Street Residential District. It is a mixed retail commerce center that sits on the border of the Great Miami and Mad Rivers.

It is a slow rebound from the failed Ballpark Village and Walmart proposal. Bear Creek Capital was going to develop the area but it turned sour after the economy went south.

Water Street District is being built. But will it bring the people to Dayton?

Crayford Holdings is now in charge of this project. Hopefully this Water Street District will help the city bring in residents. I mean it's risky move, but Whaley and city leaders are hoping for a win.

Dayton is trying to curb the economic losses of businesses closing up, people leaving en mass and the negativity of urban blight.

It lost 30% of its population in the last 20 years. It's population at present time is 137,000 residents.

In its prime Dayton had over 200,000 residents. Once that all this dried up, the people were left without jobs and sense of happiness. So some who could afford the opportunities moved out.

The city has seen a gradual decrease in its population due to the loss of manufacturing, white flight and urban sprawl. The Midwestern city is caught between Cincinnati, Indianapolis and Columbus. These three cities have most of the area's major attractions.

U.S. 35 travels from Michigan City, Indiana to near Charleston, West Virginia. It passes through the Appalachian plateau.

Dayton's basically surviving on the military's continuation of Wright-Patterson Air Force Base and the mid level services (i.e.the Love's and Flying J truck stops, The Hollywood Gaming racino, and the health care industry).

Dayton's metro area includes its inner and outer suburbs with the addition of Troy, Xenia and Eaton as its extended areas.

I am traveler and love to get around town once in awhile. I like to visit areas in America that are quite unique. My community is no different.

Dayton, Ohio is the county seat of Montgomery County. Dayton is the sixth largest city in the state.

The main highway that travels through it is Interstate 75. It is a major north-south highway that travels from Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan to the suburbs of Miami, Florida. It is one of the many routes that goes toward the Canadian border.

The other interstates are Interstate 70 which doesn't pass through the city and Interstate 675 which bypasses the city.

The Federal Highway Administration has to confirm the U.S. 35 freeway is up to Interstate standards. If the freeway is up to standards, it will be labeled an interstate highway. 

The secondary highways are Ohio State Route 4, Ohio State Route 49 and U.S. 35. They are limited access freeways that often have stop lights or stop signs on the pathway.

What determines a controlled access highway from an interstate?

The AASHTO (American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials) releases a standards manual called A Policy on Design Standards: Interstate System. For a certain highway to be considered an Interstate Highway, it must meet these construction requirements or obtain a waiver from the Federal Highway Administration.

I had a thought that comes to mind. Could U.S. 35 be designated for Interstate standards?

Ohio residents could petition the state and FHA for 10 miles of  U.S. 35 to be co-signed with a 3-digit interstate highway. If approved by the Ohio Department of Transportation, the proposal would then go to the Federal Highway Administration for final approval.

Could Interstate 575 become a thing here in Dayton?

I believe that Interstate 575 would start from the James H. McGee Boulevard exit to Beavercreek at the North Fairfield Road interchange. Alongside the Interstate it would be co-signed with U.S. 35.

From Beavercreek, U.S. 35 begins it southeastern journey all the way to West Virginia.

Eventually U.S. 35 will be formally developed into a complete freeway with exit ramps and no street level intersections.