Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
Progress continues in plans for expanding Ind. 13 through Syracuse, but don't look for construction to begin next year.
Several decisions have been finalized in recent weeks, and more details will be discussed during a meeting in Syracuse Nov. 6 with town council members, said town manager Matt Vigneault.
Town officials learned last week that Indiana's Department of Transportation had rejected inquiries about whether the Ind. 13 expansion plan could be trimmed to three lanes instead of four and five.
The inquiry was made after the Syracuse-Wawasee Chamber of Commerce spoke against the five-lane plan, saying it would in part destroy the current environment of the "village" shopping area.
However, traffic studies show that three lanes would be insufficient, state officials contend. One reason for expanding the number of lanes is the high number of accidents, many of which stem from traffic using nearby access roads.
The project would decrease the number of access points to the side roads, which bothers some business owners.
State opposition to the three-lane plan hasn't been communicated officially through a letter, but was verbally expressed recently, Vigneault said.
State officials will likely discuss other developing factors in the project. Those might include reduced lane widths and possible expansion of green space between access roads and the highway.
The Nov. 6 meeting starts at 7 p.m. and is open to the public, but will not include an opportunity for public questions or comments. It is described as a working meeting for state officials, engineers and city officials, Vigneault said.
The town is also seeking from the state all costs involved in signalization. Those costs alone are expected to exceed $100,000, Vigneault said.
Eighty percent of the multi-million dollar project will be covered with federal funding. The town hopes to split the remaining 20 percent with the state.
"We need to get updated cost estimates and then re-submit the proposal to the state," Vigneault said.
Bidding for the project can't happen until after final review by the state. Even after that happens the selected contractor might not be awarded the project until some time next year. Whether the company would start work late in the construction season remains unknown.
"I don't personally think they're going to be able to start next year. We'll have to see what they want to do. If they wait until 1998, it will cost more," Vigneault said.
"It's kind of a dilemma," he said.
