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SYRACUSE - Merchants and motorists alike offered a landslide of opposition Wednesday to the proposed five-lane road project through the village.
In what was touted as possibly the final chance for the public to learn about and comment on the long-awaited proposal, town officials hosted two meetings Wednesday at the high school.
Nearly 150 people combined to attend the meetings and offered a vast array of criticism.
Hardly anyone aside from engineers spoke in favor of the project, while merchants and others laughed, scoffed and growled at details of the plan. It could cost $3.3 million to expand Ind. 13 through the town's main business district.
The project would extend from a point south of Bowser Street and stretch north past the railroad tracks.
Engineers and some town officials claim the expansion is needed to serve increasing traffic and reduce confusion linked to adjoining frontage roads.
Merchants, with the backing of Syracuse-Wawasee Chamber of Commerce, don't like the plan because it would reduce available parking and access to the congested business district.
Many questioned why the state insists on increasing the number of lanes to five. Engineers said the state claims traffic studies warrant the upgrade.
Businessman Kelly England reminded the Indianapolis engineers that while they're proposing five lanes for the town, the road to the Statehouse (Meridian Street) only has four.
Donna Beck said five lanes would eliminate the village atmosphere and create a "drag strip."
"With five lanes, they're going to be flying through there. Talk about accidents," she said.
Several people with ties to Warsaw compared that city's experience in expanding North Detroit Street. Dick Witt, who operates NAPA auto stores in Warsaw and Syracuse, said merchants along North Detroit "went through hell" during construction," and predicted Syracuse's road improvement would "become a highway."
He also predicted the proposed sidewalks "would be an absolute waste."
Jean Northenor, vice president of Lake City Bank, which has an office along Ind. 13, said the project would destroy the village's unique ambiance.
"I thoroughly believe this project will hurt the merchants," she said.
A representative of Farmer's State Bank, also on the stretch of road, pointed out the town failed to seek the merchants' input.
Town council president Barb Carwile responded by reminding the public that several hearings were conducted and that the chamber initially proposed the project in 1991.
"Maybe the chamber was wrong," said the bank representative.
Many complained about the decreased number of access points to the frontage road even though the latest plan opened up some of the previously proposed areas along several intersecting roads.
Town resident Gus Duehmig pointed out that the plan had very little verbal support.
"Maybe the town ought to take notice of that," Duehmig said. "Right now, it doesn't sound like a good idea."
Carwile said she planned to call a special meeting for council to cast a deciding vote on the issue. No date for the meeting was set.
