Recognized as one of Ohio’s most dangerous rural intersections, the State Route 32 (SR 32) & Brooks-Malott Road intersection was included in Governor Mike DeWine’s Top 150 Intersections Safety Priority List in 2019. Funded through the Ohio Department of Transportation’s (ODOT) Highway Safety Improvement Program, this interchange project was initiated to address the intersection’s safety issues, ease traffic congestion, improve access and unlock economic development opportunities in Mt. Orab, Ohio. Burgess & Niple (B&N) was contracted by ODOT District 9 to lead the study, design and engineering efforts for this new interchange along SR 32.
Design and Engineering
Several safety improvement alternatives were evaluated, including roundabouts, restricted crossing U-turns and partial interchanges. As a result of a thorough, six-month-long public engagement effort, the diamond interchange was chosen to reduce conflict points, eliminate left-turn movements across high-speed traffic, and enhance overall traffic flow and safety. This project also included a mile-long roadway, Homan Way, connecting Brooks-Malott Road to Bodman Road and a dedicated right-out-only access at existing Brooks-Malott Road from the Mercy Health – Mt. Orab Medical Center for emergency vehicles to ensure quicker response times.
Extensive 3D modeling incorporated ditch and culvert designs to create an accurate representation of the proposed drainage system in the area’s flat terrain. Best management practices, such as bioretention cells, were implemented to meet the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency’s water quality standards for stormwater runoff.
Economic and Community Impact
The new interchange supports economic development by opening significant land south of SR 32 for future commercial and residential growth. It also improves access to key regional facilities, like Mercy Health – Mt. Orab Medical Center and Southern State Community College.
The SR 32 & Brooks-Malott Road interchange successfully addressed the region’s most pressing safety concerns by eliminating two high-risk at-grade intersections along SR 32. The interchange improved emergency response times, ensured smooth traffic flow and supported the village’s vision for economic growth by creating nearly a mile of new development-ready land. The project remained within budget and construction was completed nearly a full year ahead of schedule.
This project honors the legacy of former Mayor Bruce Lunsford, who championed the need for an interchange for over two decades. His relentless advocacy helped secure funding and ODOT’s support. Bruce Lunsford worked closely with B&N during the study phase to guide the project’s development while minimizing community impacts and maximizing safety and traffic operations. Though he passed away during the design phase, his vision, leadership and dedication will be remembered through the new interchange road, deservedly being named Bruce Lunsford Way.