Fort Wayne plans to use its stimulus cash to improve downtown streets, add bicycle access and increase safety on an intersection that has received numerous complaints.
David Ross, city engineer, said the city wants to use its $3.7 million in federal stimulus money on several projects that could put people to work quickly.
With Parkview Field complete, Ross said there is an emphasis on trying to use the money to enhance downtown streets. This includes making them smoother and improving their access to bike travelers.
He said the city will be looking to repave Washington and Jefferson boulevards, noting it has been about a dozen years since they received such work. Washington will be done from Broadway to Clay Street and Jefferson will be done from Calhoun Street to Clay because of the construction on the Courtyard by Marriott at Harrison Street.
The city will also be improving Wayne and Berry streets and adding bike lanes, similar to the one already on Wayne. This work will extend from Broadway to Clay, but could go farther east if money is available, Ross said.
The final project would improve Rudisill Boulevard from Broadway to Anthony Boulevard. This would include bike lanes on each side of Rudisill, reducing the through lanes for each direction from two to one and adding a middle left-turn lane. Ross said this work would also create left-turn lanes at the intersection of Rudisill and Fairfield Avenue, which has received numerous complaints since the city changed the traffic signal.
The Fort Wayne Board of Works on Wednesday approved hiring A&Z Engineering and DLZ Indiana for $25,000 each to help get the projects approved by the federal government.
