Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
SYRACUSE - In a special session Jan. 23 in town hall, Syracuse Town Council members again addressed widening Ind. 13 from Chicago Street to the south edge of town.
Again they were told that due to the amount of traffic counted on July 11 a few years ago and retested later, Indiana Department of Transportation requires that the thoroughfare be five lanes wide and that many of the entries to the access roads be limited but not closed entirely.
The council looked at drawings, studied maps and asked questions of the engineers and of themselves.
Answering their questions were Michael J. Waldron and Ben Zobrist of Butler, Fairman & Seufert Consulting Engineers of Indianapolis, who told the council, "The substantial part is done. We are only looking for directions from the town."
FB&S representatives said the town is responsible for 10 percent of the estimated $2 million in construction costs as well as all the costs for engineering and buying necessary rights of way.
They also explained that all drainage will be enclosed, which should improve movement of stormwater, and that there will be curbs, sidewalks and green space on both sides of the road. Burying power lines and planting trees were not part of the plans presented to the council.
"Once you decide, we can begin to let bids in six to eight months, depending on the acquisition process, and construction can begin about four months later. It will take most of the construction season to complete the project, explained the engineers.
"You'll never get a 10 percent project again," said Zobrist.
Now the council begins deliberation.
