Western Route Takes Different Form After Original Plans Denied By INDOT
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
By Tim [email protected]
Kosciusko County was going to have a route that stretched the entire length of the county from north to south using existing and new stretches of road. The route was going to make it possible for truck traffic to bypass Warsaw and ease the traffic situation at some of the city's intersections. It was called the "Western Route."[[In-content Ad]]The county began discussing the Western Route in 2003, after federal funds were earmarked to help fund the project. Kosciusko County Auditor Ron Robinson said the idea was to make a way for semi-tractor-trailers to take goods in and out of area industries without driving through downtown Warsaw. The county worked with Mishawaka engineering firm, Troyer Group, to identify several plans for route alternatives. The county commissioners held hearings to get public input on the project. The county commissioners selected a final route July 27, 2004.
The corridor began near CR 400S and traveled southwest of Goose Lake to approximately CR 350W. The proposed corridor would travel north until approximately Crystal Lake Road, and then travel north along CR 300W, crossing U.S. 30 at the closed rest park. In the area of CRs 450N to 500N, it would travel east to Ind. 15. As many back property fence lines as possible would be used. The proposed corridor then went north on Ind. 15, but before going through Milford, it turned northwest to the Elkhart County line.
Then, Commissioner Ron Truex and Troyer Group engineers presented the plan to the Indiana Department of Transportation. The cost of the first phase of the project was estimated at $37,350,000. Robinson said INDOT found the project to be too costly.
"At that time, they would not support the project," said Robinson. "They recommended we look at other alternatives."
Robinson said the county did not announce INDOT's decision to the public. "Once this was not adopted, there was a lot of confusion," he said. "We wanted to have a good plan in place, so when people had questions, we could answer them."
Robinson said, since 2004, he has been working with Troyer Group engineer Susan Al-Abbas to devise a new Western Route project. He said the project's goals are the same.
"We looked at ways we could solve some of our traffic problems," he said.
On April 10, Robinson told the Kosciusko County Redevelopment Commission environmental studies are underway for a project to build roundabouts at three intersections along Old 30. Robinson said the state has decided the project will qualify to be funded from the same source that the Western Route project was planned to be funded from. Robinson told the redevelopment commission the county has $6 million in federal funds to use toward the project. In essence, Robinson said, this is the latest version of the Western Route. Robinson reported the estimated cost of the project is just more than $8.6 million.
Combined with INDOT's plans to widen Ind. 15 and to modify several intersections in Warsaw to ease traffic flow, Robinson said the roundabouts may help the county achieve the goal of easing congestion in city. "We'll have to wait and see what the impact is going to be," he said.
Roundabouts are not common in northern Indiana. The most well-known nearby example is the roundabout at the South Bend Regional Airport. Robinson said his office is planning an education campaign to prepare area drivers to navigate the circular patterned intersections.
"At first it's going to be a learning process for the general public learning how to go through these," he said. "Me too. I mean, I come to work down that highway every day."
Robinson estimated the roundabout at Zimmer Road and Old Road 30 could be built as early as 2009 and at Fox Farm Road and CR 350W could be built as early as 2010. Before construction begins, Robinson said environmental studies and other prep work must be completed.
"We are definitely going to have to acquire land at all three intersections," he said.
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Kosciusko County was going to have a route that stretched the entire length of the county from north to south using existing and new stretches of road. The route was going to make it possible for truck traffic to bypass Warsaw and ease the traffic situation at some of the city's intersections. It was called the "Western Route."[[In-content Ad]]The county began discussing the Western Route in 2003, after federal funds were earmarked to help fund the project. Kosciusko County Auditor Ron Robinson said the idea was to make a way for semi-tractor-trailers to take goods in and out of area industries without driving through downtown Warsaw. The county worked with Mishawaka engineering firm, Troyer Group, to identify several plans for route alternatives. The county commissioners held hearings to get public input on the project. The county commissioners selected a final route July 27, 2004.
The corridor began near CR 400S and traveled southwest of Goose Lake to approximately CR 350W. The proposed corridor would travel north until approximately Crystal Lake Road, and then travel north along CR 300W, crossing U.S. 30 at the closed rest park. In the area of CRs 450N to 500N, it would travel east to Ind. 15. As many back property fence lines as possible would be used. The proposed corridor then went north on Ind. 15, but before going through Milford, it turned northwest to the Elkhart County line.
Then, Commissioner Ron Truex and Troyer Group engineers presented the plan to the Indiana Department of Transportation. The cost of the first phase of the project was estimated at $37,350,000. Robinson said INDOT found the project to be too costly.
"At that time, they would not support the project," said Robinson. "They recommended we look at other alternatives."
Robinson said the county did not announce INDOT's decision to the public. "Once this was not adopted, there was a lot of confusion," he said. "We wanted to have a good plan in place, so when people had questions, we could answer them."
Robinson said, since 2004, he has been working with Troyer Group engineer Susan Al-Abbas to devise a new Western Route project. He said the project's goals are the same.
"We looked at ways we could solve some of our traffic problems," he said.
On April 10, Robinson told the Kosciusko County Redevelopment Commission environmental studies are underway for a project to build roundabouts at three intersections along Old 30. Robinson said the state has decided the project will qualify to be funded from the same source that the Western Route project was planned to be funded from. Robinson told the redevelopment commission the county has $6 million in federal funds to use toward the project. In essence, Robinson said, this is the latest version of the Western Route. Robinson reported the estimated cost of the project is just more than $8.6 million.
Combined with INDOT's plans to widen Ind. 15 and to modify several intersections in Warsaw to ease traffic flow, Robinson said the roundabouts may help the county achieve the goal of easing congestion in city. "We'll have to wait and see what the impact is going to be," he said.
Roundabouts are not common in northern Indiana. The most well-known nearby example is the roundabout at the South Bend Regional Airport. Robinson said his office is planning an education campaign to prepare area drivers to navigate the circular patterned intersections.
"At first it's going to be a learning process for the general public learning how to go through these," he said. "Me too. I mean, I come to work down that highway every day."
Robinson estimated the roundabout at Zimmer Road and Old Road 30 could be built as early as 2009 and at Fox Farm Road and CR 350W could be built as early as 2010. Before construction begins, Robinson said environmental studies and other prep work must be completed.
"We are definitely going to have to acquire land at all three intersections," he said.
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