CR 1300N Project Slated To Begin Spring 2022
April 30, 2021 at 12:22 a.m.
CR 1300N Project Slated To Begin Spring 2022
By David [email protected]
Of the nearly $10 million cost for the project, $7.8 million is being funded by a grant from the Local TRAX Rail Overpass Program that Kosciusko County applied for and was awarded. Construction is expected to begin as early as spring 2022.
Charles Boltz, of Michael Baker International, the lead design team for the project, opened the approximately 19-minute public hearing.
“Basically, we’re going to shift the alignment of 1300 and we’re going to put a grade crossing, so we take away some of the train traffic levels that Milford has,” he said.
After applauding Kosciusko County for pulling the project together and applying for the grant to make it possible, Boltz said the project team includes the county, Indiana Department of Transportation, Michael Baker, VS Engineering, Burgess & Niple and SJCA. “All of us have come together to deliver this project for you,” he said.
He noted that the public notice was published in two area newspapers on April 14, including the Times-Union. “The public notice is to tell all of you that we’re going to move forward with this project. This is the time for the public to come up and speak. Tell us your opinions and views,” he said.
All the documents displayed and discussed at Thursday’s meeting can be found at www.in.gov/indot/4281.htm or at the Milford Public Library, he said.
On the timeline for the project, Boltz said the project started in 2019. Over the last two years, the plans and concepts were developed and they went over the environmental process. “Where we are right now is having the public hearing, with you today, to discuss this project and really show you what we’re going to do and to get your feedback. This is part of the environmental process for us to close up,” he said.
The next phase, after the environmental process closes up, is to go into the actual right-of-way land acquisition. That will start mid to late summer. After the acquisition is complete, Boltz said construction bids will begin in late fall 2021, with construction beginning in spring 2022.
Project stakeholders for the project include Kosciusko County Highway Department, INDOT, Norfolk Southern Railroad, Michiana Area Council of Governments, residents, landowners, elected officials, police and fire departments, he said.
Wendy Vachet, who leads the environmental design process and also is with Michael Baker International, explained the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 requires that INDOT perform environmental analysis on all major projects that could involve federal aid funds.
“In this case, really, the primary reason for the project, is the county has been incubating it for a whole long time. It’s been going on long before we started here. We just get to pick up the ball and carry it over,” she said, noting projects like this could take decades.
“It’s definitely going to be a safer route,” Vachet said. “We’re going to improve connectivity. We’ve minimized our impacts. ... We do not have any weapon impacts, we do not have any cultural resources impacts or farmland impacts. All the things that we have to consider during the process.”
She said the purpose and need of the project is to improve the connectivity through Milford and the entire region.
“As you know, when you’re traveling on 1300N now, let’s say you’re coming from east or west, and you’re coming into Milford – Bam! The road ends. You’ve got to go north or you’ve got to go south, trying to get around, coming into town. So, you need to be able to have more connectivity, that’s why this project has been around,” she said.
The project also will promote economic development by providing regional connectivity between Milford, Milford Junction, Syracuse, Goshen and Warsaw.
“And as we all know, yes, you have truck traffic. You may be a rural community, but you have lots of truck traffic and perhaps more to come in the future with your economic development,” Vachet said.
There are multiple railroad crossings between Milford Junction and Milford – North, South, Syracuse and Fourth streets have a lot of activity, she said.
“When the project is completed, and after the project is constructed, North Street, South Street and Fourth Street will be closed,” she said.
They looked at six alternatives and a preferred alternative was selected. Vachet said the connection itself was a little over half a mile. Main Street will be rerouted and there will be improvements to the tie-in with Ind. 15. There are over 15 acres of right-of-way. There are no plans to relocate any homes, businesses or such, she said.
The meeting was opened to questions and answers, with Bruce Woodward providing the sole comments. He is the trustee of the Howard E. Woodward Revocable Trust, which is a tract to the south of the tentative roadway and between Main and Higbee (Ind. 15) streets. He was concerned about the tract losing all of its access to Ind. 15 and the appraisal process.
After the meeting, Kosciusko County Highway Department Superintendent Steve Moriarty said the project will be a benefit for the county.
“I think, just in general for the public and the town of Milford and Kosciusko County, that the citizens of Kosciusko County will benefit one just because of the safety aspect of it, and the easy access connecting both Milford and the city of Syracuse. I think, overall, it’s nice to see something of a project of this magnitude come to such a small county and a small community. So I think it’s a positive economically and, most of all, safety wise,” he said.
Brad Jackson, county commissioner for the northern district, said, “It’ll be a huge benefit, I think, not only for bus safety and ambulance safety and public safety, but also Polywood is a homegrown industry and they have around 50-60 semis a day just for them, and then you have Tru Pointe in addition to that. So, it’ll provide a lot of connectivity to get truck traffic out and keep it hopefully out of Syracuse, as well, which will be good.”
Public comments on the project can still be made until May 14. Mail comments to Michael Baker International, 3815 River Crossing Parkway, Suite 20, Indianapolis, IN 46240; or email [email protected].
Of the nearly $10 million cost for the project, $7.8 million is being funded by a grant from the Local TRAX Rail Overpass Program that Kosciusko County applied for and was awarded. Construction is expected to begin as early as spring 2022.
Charles Boltz, of Michael Baker International, the lead design team for the project, opened the approximately 19-minute public hearing.
“Basically, we’re going to shift the alignment of 1300 and we’re going to put a grade crossing, so we take away some of the train traffic levels that Milford has,” he said.
After applauding Kosciusko County for pulling the project together and applying for the grant to make it possible, Boltz said the project team includes the county, Indiana Department of Transportation, Michael Baker, VS Engineering, Burgess & Niple and SJCA. “All of us have come together to deliver this project for you,” he said.
He noted that the public notice was published in two area newspapers on April 14, including the Times-Union. “The public notice is to tell all of you that we’re going to move forward with this project. This is the time for the public to come up and speak. Tell us your opinions and views,” he said.
All the documents displayed and discussed at Thursday’s meeting can be found at www.in.gov/indot/4281.htm or at the Milford Public Library, he said.
On the timeline for the project, Boltz said the project started in 2019. Over the last two years, the plans and concepts were developed and they went over the environmental process. “Where we are right now is having the public hearing, with you today, to discuss this project and really show you what we’re going to do and to get your feedback. This is part of the environmental process for us to close up,” he said.
The next phase, after the environmental process closes up, is to go into the actual right-of-way land acquisition. That will start mid to late summer. After the acquisition is complete, Boltz said construction bids will begin in late fall 2021, with construction beginning in spring 2022.
Project stakeholders for the project include Kosciusko County Highway Department, INDOT, Norfolk Southern Railroad, Michiana Area Council of Governments, residents, landowners, elected officials, police and fire departments, he said.
Wendy Vachet, who leads the environmental design process and also is with Michael Baker International, explained the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 requires that INDOT perform environmental analysis on all major projects that could involve federal aid funds.
“In this case, really, the primary reason for the project, is the county has been incubating it for a whole long time. It’s been going on long before we started here. We just get to pick up the ball and carry it over,” she said, noting projects like this could take decades.
“It’s definitely going to be a safer route,” Vachet said. “We’re going to improve connectivity. We’ve minimized our impacts. ... We do not have any weapon impacts, we do not have any cultural resources impacts or farmland impacts. All the things that we have to consider during the process.”
She said the purpose and need of the project is to improve the connectivity through Milford and the entire region.
“As you know, when you’re traveling on 1300N now, let’s say you’re coming from east or west, and you’re coming into Milford – Bam! The road ends. You’ve got to go north or you’ve got to go south, trying to get around, coming into town. So, you need to be able to have more connectivity, that’s why this project has been around,” she said.
The project also will promote economic development by providing regional connectivity between Milford, Milford Junction, Syracuse, Goshen and Warsaw.
“And as we all know, yes, you have truck traffic. You may be a rural community, but you have lots of truck traffic and perhaps more to come in the future with your economic development,” Vachet said.
There are multiple railroad crossings between Milford Junction and Milford – North, South, Syracuse and Fourth streets have a lot of activity, she said.
“When the project is completed, and after the project is constructed, North Street, South Street and Fourth Street will be closed,” she said.
They looked at six alternatives and a preferred alternative was selected. Vachet said the connection itself was a little over half a mile. Main Street will be rerouted and there will be improvements to the tie-in with Ind. 15. There are over 15 acres of right-of-way. There are no plans to relocate any homes, businesses or such, she said.
The meeting was opened to questions and answers, with Bruce Woodward providing the sole comments. He is the trustee of the Howard E. Woodward Revocable Trust, which is a tract to the south of the tentative roadway and between Main and Higbee (Ind. 15) streets. He was concerned about the tract losing all of its access to Ind. 15 and the appraisal process.
After the meeting, Kosciusko County Highway Department Superintendent Steve Moriarty said the project will be a benefit for the county.
“I think, just in general for the public and the town of Milford and Kosciusko County, that the citizens of Kosciusko County will benefit one just because of the safety aspect of it, and the easy access connecting both Milford and the city of Syracuse. I think, overall, it’s nice to see something of a project of this magnitude come to such a small county and a small community. So I think it’s a positive economically and, most of all, safety wise,” he said.
Brad Jackson, county commissioner for the northern district, said, “It’ll be a huge benefit, I think, not only for bus safety and ambulance safety and public safety, but also Polywood is a homegrown industry and they have around 50-60 semis a day just for them, and then you have Tru Pointe in addition to that. So, it’ll provide a lot of connectivity to get truck traffic out and keep it hopefully out of Syracuse, as well, which will be good.”
Public comments on the project can still be made until May 14. Mail comments to Michael Baker International, 3815 River Crossing Parkway, Suite 20, Indianapolis, IN 46240; or email [email protected].
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