PROCESS

The City of Hamilton and BCTID are following ODOT’s five-phase Project Planning Process to develop the NHX project. Right now, efforts are focused on completing tasks in the Preliminary Engineering and Environmental Engineering phases.

This graphic illustrates ODOT’s Project Development Process.

The Planning Phase focuses on:

Identifying transportation problems
Assessing existing and future conditions
Identifying stakeholders
Gathering public input
Determining project scope, purpose, and goals
Identifying project schedule and budget

The Preliminary Engineering Phase focuses on:

Conducting initial technical studies, field investigations, and preliminary engineering
Identifying and evaluating potential project alternatives
Gathering public input
Refining information and analyses
Conduct the necessary environmental studies
Identifying a preferred alternative for construction

The Environmental Engineering Phase focuses on:

Identifying anticipated project impacts
Identifying impact minimization and mitigation measures
Gathering public input
Pursuing National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) approval for the project to proceed
Developing detailed project designs
Preparing right-of-way plans

Feasibility Study

A key focus of the Preliminary Engineering phase was conducting a Feasibility Study. This study:

Defined existing conditions
Identified environmental and community features in the study area
Identified planned development/redevelopment projects in the study area and nearby
Included traffic studies
Identified potential route alternatives

For study purposes, the study area was divided into three sections:

West Section (North B Street to US 127)
Central Section (US 127 to North Fair Avenue)
East Section (North Fair Avenue to SR 129/High Street)

Information gathered from the environmental, community, and engineering studies completed plus comments received from the community helped to identify alignment options within each of these three sections. By combining alignment options in one section with alignment options in the other sections, 18 different NHX route alternatives were developed.

Each alternative was evaluated based on how well it would fulfill the project’s Purpose and Need and how it would affect the surrounding area, people, and resources.

Map of the proposed alternatives advanced from the Feasibility Study for further development and study.

Overview map of the alternatives advanced from the Feasibility Study for further development and study.

Evaluation results were shared with the public early in 2023 through an In-Person Open House and a 45-day Virtual Open House. Feedback received combined with study results was used to narrow the 18 different route options down to four feasible alternatives.

A summary of the open houses and feedback received is available on the Past Public Input Opportunities section of the Participate page. A copy of the Feasibility Study is posted on the Document Archive page.

The Recommended Preferred Alternative

Following the completion of the Feasibility Study, the four alternatives recommended for further study – plus several modifications and a new alternative suggested by community members – were refined and studied in more detail. This work is further discussed in the December 2024 Feasibility Study Amendment.

Specific attention was paid to the projected benefits and impacts of each alternative and the degree to which those impacts could be minimized. Keeping the needs and priorities of the project and surrounding community in mind, the City and BCTID identified a recommended route for each section of the NHX project. Combined, these three routes formed the Recommended Preferred Alternative for the NHX project.

A map highlighting the Recommended Preferred Alternative – or route – for the North Hamilton Crossing. Inset images show conceptual renderings of what the road will look like when complete.

(Click image to enlarge)

The Recommended Preferred Alternative was shared with the community for review and input during in-person and virtual open houses in June 2025. Based on the public comments received, the Recommended Preferred Alternative was confirmed as the Preferred Alternative and advanced for Preliminary Engineering and Environmental Assessment.

A summary of the 2025 open houses, copies of the materials shared, and public input received are provided in the Past Public Input Opportunities section of the Participate page.

Environmental Assessment

An Environmental Assessment (EA) was completed in 2026 in compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). The purpose of an EA is to:

Document studies completed to date and their findings
Identify environmental impacts for the Preferred Alternative
Define potential impacts and measures that will be taken to minimize impacts

As the EA was being prepared, several modifications were made to the Preferred Alternative to further improve traffic flow and pedestrian travel safety. These include adding a roundabout at the NHX/North Fair Avenue intersection, adding street-level sidewalks near the railroad crossing, and adding additional crosswalks at various locations throughout the corridor. Modifications to the Preferred Alternative also include a future expansion of Moser Park.

A map of the Preferred Alternative – or route – for the North Hamilton Crossing.

(Click image to enlarge)

Visit the About NHX page for a detailed description of the Preferred Alternative.

Next Steps

Environmental Assessment Review & Comment

The EA will be provided to state and federal regulatory agencies for review as well as released to the public for review in late August 2026. A formal Public Hearing will be held on September 10, 2026, to receive comments from the community on the EA and its recommendations. A 30-day public comment period will follow. More details about the Public Hearing and comment period are provided in the Upcoming Public Input Opportunities section of the Participate page.

Once the public comment period has ended, ODOT – acting on behalf of FHWA – will review the EA in detail and consider all public comments received before making a decision on whether or not to accept the EA and its recommendations.

If the EA is approved, no further environmental review is required and the project will advance to the next stages of development, pending the availability of funding. If the EA is not approved, additional environmental studies will be required. This determination is expected in early 2027.

Project Development Milestones Graphic
Project Development Milestones for 2026 and 2027. Milestones for 2026 include preparation and review of the Environmental Assessment in the summer and fall, a public hearing in the fall, and review public comments in the fall. Milestones for 2027 include a National Environmental Policy Act decision on whether or not to approve the EA in early 2027. If approved, planning will continue. If not, an Environmental Impact Statement will be prepared.

Phasing & Timing

The NHX project will be built in phases. Specific timing depends on the availability of funding.

The NHX will generally be developed from west to east. Focus will primarily be on the West Section first due to the limitations of the aging Black Street Bridge.

Before work can begin, however, funding is needed for detailed design, utility relocation and right-of-way acquisition. Once funding is obtained, it’s expected that these efforts will take between three and five years to complete. It will take another several years to construct the new bridge. Specific timing for the Central and East Sections is not yet known.

It’s anticipated that it will take 20 to 30 years to complete the NHX in its entirety.

Several intersection improvements have been advanced as individual projects to make local travel easier and safer in the near term and to take advantage of recent funding opportunities. Construction of these smaller initiatives will begin in the next few years. More information is available on the Breakout Projects page.

Funding

Planning and building the NHX in its entirety will be a long-term process. Due to its size and magnitude of cost, the NHX will not be funded all at once. Instead, funding will most likely come from a series of multiple federal, state and local commitments and grants secured over many years.

Although work is expected to progress primarily from west to east, the City and BCTID will pursue funding opportunities for all parts of the project as different funding opportunities become available. At times, this could shift the order in which some parts of the NHX are built.

Funding received to date will allow the City and BCITD to complete the Environmental Assessment process. Funding has also been secured for the construction of several intersection and road improvements on the west side of the Great Miami River. More information is available on the Breakout Projects page.

Currently, the City and BCTID are pursuing additional funding for bridge design and construction in the West Section. An application has also been submitted to fund the construction of a roundabout at the intersection of Princeton Road and Hampshire Drive in the East Section. See the Breakout Projects page for more detail.

Graphic shows that we are at the Environmental Assessment Public Hearing stage of the Project Development Process.