FORT WAYNE – While many readers expressed thanks for the midyear construction update that appeared Tuesday, it appears the list was not expansive enough for everyone. Here is my effort to make amends.
Q. Can you provide any info regarding the Dupont Road construction? Are they including roadside trails or sidewalks? – Kyle Davis
A. There is still plenty of work to be done, Kyle, but I am happy to provide an update.
Stacie McCormick, spokeswoman for the Indiana Department of Transportation, said the project is on schedule and traffic is likely to be switched to the new pavement on the north side of Dupont by the end of August.
When it’s complete, drivers will have dedicated turn lanes and medians on Dupont. The concrete road from Interstate 69 to Diebold Road will have three lanes in each direction. From Diebold to Tonkel Road, there will be two lanes in each direction. It then will narrow to the existing two-lane road east of Tonkel.
The project includes new traffic signals, sidewalks on the north from Tonkel east to Oak Chapel Drive and sidewalks on the south from east of Tonkel to just east of I-69.
Primco Construction is doing the $11.2 million project, financed by federal stimulus money. It should be completed by the end of August 2011.
Roads closed
Cook Road over Spy Run Creek between Lewis and Wadington roads was closed this month for a bridge reconstruction project. The road is expected to remain closed until Aug. 27. To get around the detour, drivers can use Innovation Boulevard to the west or Lima Road to the east.
The intersection of Fritz and Wallen roads in northwest Allen County was closed for reconstruction. The project closes Fritz between Wallen and Till roads and Wallen from Fritz to about 500 feet west until Aug. 11. Goshen Road to the west and Huguenard Road to the east probably serve as the best detours.
Project meeting
Residents have a chance next week to learn about road projects being pitched across northeast Indiana.
INDOT will meet with governments that have applied for federal money for road projects. The meeting will be at 8:45 a.m. Wednesday at 5333 Hatfield Road. DeKalb, Huntington, Kosciusko, Elkhart and Wabash counties have submitted applications, as has the town of Markle.
For those who don’t have the time or patience to attend, I plan to report the application results to you when the state releases them.
Radio Sage
This week’s bonus audio question comes from Edward Woenker, who asks about the progress on St. Joe River Drive. The segment originally aired Friday afternoon on WOWO and can be heard online at www.journalgazette.net/roadsage.
