A union strike has put several Warsaw street projects on hold, but the Union of Operating Engineers Local 150 has come to a tentative agreement.
The agreement will allow local projects to resume once employers contact their workers.
During a telephone interview this morning, Reggie Smith, Phend & Brown estimator and project manager, said Phend & Brown came to a tentative agreement late Tuesday afternoon with the International Union of Operating Engineers Local 150.
The International Union of Operating Engineers Local 150 reached a tentative agreement with the Northwest Indiana Contractor’s Association, the Four County Highway Contractors Group and the Indiana Constructor’s Association Tuesday afternoon.
The Local 150 group has been on strike for the past two weeks while contracts were negotiated.
Phend & Brown is the contractor for the Center Street and Fox Farm Road, and Old Road 30 projects in Warsaw.
Smith said the Center Street project will resume after the second week in July after the Kosciukso County 4-H fair. Center Street from Hickory Street near the railroad at the center of town to U.S. 30 and East Lake Street will be repaved.
The Fox Farm Road and Old 30 projects resume today.
Smith said projects in Nappanee that Phend & Brown is contracting include the Lincoln Street and Ind. 19 project that resume today.
The CR 100 project and Ind. 15 projects in Warsaw are being contracted by Pioneer Associates Inc., Albion.
During a telephone interview this morning, Tom Jones, Pioneer Associates Inc. engineer, said the CR 100 (Rozella Road) and Ind. 15 (Fisher Avenue) projects will resume once the workers and equipment are back at the site.
“We want to resume work as soon as possible,” Jones said.
The construction at the intersection will improve the left-turn lanes, adding new left-turn lanes, adding new curb and gutter, improving the drainage, asphalt resurfacing and updating the traffic signal.
Lacy Francis, Warsaw street superintendent, said Indiana Department of Transportation rules state contractors are not permitted to work a half day before July 4 and the day after on July 5.
Francis said city street employees were completing patchwork this morning on East Center street to prepare for Phend & Brown to resume work on the project after the second week in July after the 4-H fair.
