Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
winona lake - Construction on the Argonne intersection at Winona Avenue won't start until after the Fourth of July.
Town council approved plans during a special meeting Monday for a redesign of the intersection.
Engineer Larry Long estimated the cost to be $86,000. Half of the cost will involve the reconstruction of Park Avenue so that it intersects at a 90-degree angle with the east-west road that changes names from Kings Highway to Winona Avenue.
The redesign involves swinging the road south of the "Winona Mound," a landscaped area with shrubbery shaped into the word "Winona."
When completed, the road will pass between the mound and the lake.
For the second time in two weeks, at least one person expressed concern about the mound's location. On Monday, councilman Harold Dunn raised the idea of relocating the mound to the southeast 10 to 20 feet, but the idea failed to generate any public support.
The intersection had included five roads, but a portion of Chesnut Street near the intersection has been closed.
Milled asphalt that will be removed from part of Kings Highway this week will be saved and used for fill under the new portion of Park Avenue. Officials estimate enough milled material will be left over for other street projects.
Council president Brent Wilcoxson had hoped to have the intersection completed before the town's July Fourth festival, but that won't happen.
Long said it will be about 60 days before the project can be bidded for and work can begin. Some preliminary work might begin within a few weeks, though.
The project probably won't begin until after July 4, he said.
Public works superintendent Kim Endicott said Kings Highway will be paved within about a week.
In another matter, council approved a pay schedule for extension of sewer service to developments along County Road 250E north of Pierceton Road.
As a result of the sewer extension, the town expects to see as many as 153 residential customers hook onto the system eventually.
Residential developments in the area include the 1998 Homes On Parade site at Heritage Lake and Lexington Manor.
Single family homes will pay a $540 tap-on fee. Apartments would pay a smaller fee.
Construction costs for extending sewer service is expected to be about $120,00.
The service area included along 250E encompasses about 231 acres, Long said.
