Council removes decades-old left-turn ban at Dayton Drive and Maple Avenue after realignment

Fairborn Council voted to rescind a left-turn prohibition at the Dayton Drive and Maple Avenue intersection, adopting Ordinance No. 5-18 on Jan. 16.

City Engineer Don O'Connor traced the prohibition back to 1976 and described how a 2017 realignment, center lowering, signal installation, pavement widening and new striping together altered sight lines and turning geometry. "The project is now almost complete ... it is now safe to make those left turn movements," O'Connor said. The Traffic Safety Committee recommended removing the codified prohibition, and Council voted 7–0 to adopt the ordinance after waiving additional readings.

Council members said the change will make travel easier for drivers and busses; Councilman Terry Burkert noted left turns are helpful when carrying groups of children on a bus, and Deputy Mayor Marilyn McCauley said the realignment will please residents.