WORTH TWP — In a few years, drivers on Route 422 will have easier access to Moraine State Park’s North Shore thanks to the construction of new ramps.

The ramps will give drivers going east and west access to the North Shore exit.

Currently, only vehicles traveling west on Route 422 can access the North Shore. The North Shore on-ramp to Route 422 only gives access to the eastbound lanes.

Visitors who want to access the North Shore going east on Route 422 have to get off at the South Shore exit and then re-enter the highway going back west. People on the North Shore who want to go west on Route 422 have to enter the highway going east, get off at the South Shore exit and re-enter the highway going west.

Now the state Department of Transportation has proposed adding new ramps to give better access to the park.

A public meeting is set for Thursday on this proposal. It will be from 5:30 to 7 p.m. at Worth Township Hall, formerly the Worth Grange Hall, 811 West Park Road.

Construction is expected to begin in 2017, and is estimated to cost $2.5 million to $5 million.

Park manager Dustin Drew is excited about the project: “This certainly will make it more convenient, especially for folks coming off (Interstate) 79.”

Jack Cohen, president of the Butler County Tourism and Convention Bureau, said there will be an increase in park visitors, which currently numbers about 2 million annually.

“They put those ramps in, I would expect those numbers to go up half a million. That’s the difference the ramps will make,” Cohen said.