The Russells Point and Washington Township Police Departments will be combining efforts throughout the Village of Russells Point and northern Washington Township Saturday, July 2, during fireworks festivities.
Resources will be focused on traffic enforcement with emphasis on the detection and apprehension of intoxicated and distracted drivers, officers said.
The launch site for 2022 will remain at the South Bank of Indian Lake and has expanded. The launch site will include the Midway parking lot on State Route 366, including Ohio Department of Natural Resources Property and the bike path east to Paradise Point.
Accordingly, specific changes had to be made to allow for safety and security of the launch site. The following changes have been made:
• A portion of the bike path and adjacent grass areas will be fenced off to provide the required safety zone.
• A larger Safety Zone area marked with buoys will extend out from the south shore into the open water to provide for the required safety zone.
• No parking will be allowed between the Midway parking lot and east of Township Road 239 and just west of the Russells Point Corporation Limit.
• Paradise Island (aross from Indian Head Roadhouse) will be closed to new traffic at 9 p.m. (Cars will be permitted to leave the area.)
• Long-term road closure on State Route 366 between Township Road 239 and Indian Head Roadhouse.
• Restricted Travel — West Main Street at Wilgus Drive, Third, North and Lind Streets.
Furthermore, Chief Rick Core and Chief Joe Freyhof have looked to improve traffic flow after the fireworks by making the following temporary changes as approved by the Ohio Department of Transportation:
The following access points from U.S. 33 to Main Street will be closed only as long as necessary to quickly move both incoming and outgoing traffic at the conclusion of the fireworks:
• Sunnyside Avenue (Donut Shop);
• Clermont Street- (Golf Cart World);
• Lincoln Boulevard (The Wedge); and
• State Route 708 (Huntington Bank).
The traffic lights along U.S. 33 at the State Route 708 and Township Road 239 intersections will be set to flash yellow or otherwise controlled to move traffic as efficiently as possible.
Drivers can gain access to U.S. 33 from roadways east of Russells Point from County Roads 94 on toward Huntsville. (Intersections through Russells Point are closed due to the fact they can only handle one to two vehicles before obstructing traffic flow.)