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Chestnut Street reopens

By Emily Tate, Managing Editor

The intersection of Chestnut Street and US Route 27 reopened Wednesday, Sept. 23, several days in advance of its anticipated 30-day construction period.

The closure, in place since Wednesday, Aug. 26, had forced commuters to reroute, causing traffic and delays on the way into Oxford.

Danielle Byrne, a graduate student living in Level 27 apartments, said the commute to Miami's campus took her 20 to 25 minutes every morning during the construction. Since the road reopened this week, though, her commute is down to two to three minutes.

"It made a huge difference," Byrne said.

Byrne said she hadn't heard Chestnut was reopened, she just happened to pass it on her way to campus Wednesday morning.

Still, websites for the City of Oxford and the Butler County Engineer's Office indicated the opening, according to Sharon Smigielski, public information officer for the Ohio Department of Transportation.

Smigielski said the road opened early simply because the work was completed sooner than anticipated.

"We've had good weather the last few weeks," Smigielski said, "and the contractor was able to get the work done."

Changes to the intersection included widening of resurfacing of US 27, new turn lanes and updated traffic signals.

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