Fort Wayne-Allen County Airport Authority officials cut the ribbon on a new terminal building at Smith Field airport Monday.The new terminal, at 902 W.The city will soon begin work on one of the largest sewer-pipe installations in its history.
On Wednesday, the Fort Wayne Board of Works approved moving forward with the first phase of the Upper Ely Sewer project. The work will extend a 54-inch-wide sewer pipe from south of the north loop of Interstate 469 to north of Dupont Road along the Martin Drain for an estimated $6.2 million.
Matthew Wirtz, City Utilities deputy director for engineering, said the project is part of the city’s $240 million federally mandated plan to reduce raw sewage flowing into city rivers. He said it also will provide more sewer capacity to residents in the area and to the Parkview hospital under construction.
Wirtz said the project also will help reduce septic systems in the area and eventually be expanded north where many more septic systems exist.
The board also approved starting the condemnation of a property along Dupont Road, which is needed for the pipe. Although many other properties were acquired for the work, one owner has rejected the city’s offers. Wirtz said construction is expected to begin this fall and take about a year to complete.
A second phase of the sewer is expected to begin shortly after the first, Wirtz said, bringing the total cost for the project to nearly $13 million. The city expects to spend $550,000 to $650,000 on land acquisition for the project.
In other business, the board approved a $35,000 grant of income tax revenue from City Councilman Glynn Hines, D-6th, for the African/African American Historical Society Museum. The grant will help the museum buy its building at 436 E. Douglas St.
