A massive project is finally finished in northeast Fort Wayne, providing some relief to frustrated motorists.
Q The southbound lanes of Tonkel from Dupont to Oak Fall Road appear to be completely paved and ready for permanent use. The intersection with Dupont seems to be nearing completion, so I’m wondering when it might be fully open to alleviate the rush-hour backups. – Doug Haywood
A. Well, Doug, I hope you have already enjoyed the benefits of this now-improved intersection.
The Indiana Department of Transportation opened the entire road over the Labor Day weekend, providing a smoother flow of traffic in a normally congested area. Previously, drivers were not permitted to make left turns from Dupont Road onto northbound Tonkel Road, but this restriction has been lifted.
Diebold Road and Dupont Plaza were also opened in the area.
The state widened Dupont from Interstate 69 to just east of Tonkel. The $11 million project included new pavement, curbs, gutters and sidewalks.
Q. Stellhorn Road between Wheelock and Lahmeyer roads was recently improved, but there are only small dashes marking the lanes. When will the lanes be properly marked? – Neil Clay
A. As soon as Mother Nature allows, Neil.
Bob Kennedy, Fort Wayne public works director, said the city street department will be striping the street as soon as it is dry enough. With rain forecast throughout the weekend, it might be some time next week before the work is complete. Stay safe until then.
Interstate delays
The Indiana Department of Transportation on Monday will begin a resurfacing project on Interstate 69 in DeKalb County.
The state will be removing pavement markers, cracking seals and making patches before providing a fresh layer of asphalt between U.S. 6 and Indiana 8. The state will begin in the southbound right lane, move to the northbound right lane, then the southbound left lane and finally the northbound left lane.
All work is to be completed by the end of the month.
Road work
The Indiana Department of Transportation and Fort Wayne Street Department announced work on the following projects:
•Indiana 727 through Pokagon State Park will be under construction beginning Monday. Crews will resurface various sections of road in the park and will be finished by mid-October.
•Interstate 69 is restricted in both directions between exits 140 and 148 in Steuben County to allow maintenance work on the County Road 700 South bridge over the interstate. The work began Thursday, and there will be intermittent lane restrictions through the end of the month.
•Indiana 105 in Andrews will be closed Monday to allow for improvements to a railroad crossing between West Jefferson Street and Terrel Street. The project is scheduled to be complete by Sept. 17.
•In Fort Wayne, Pettit Avenue will be closed to all traffic just east of Hoagland Avenue for repair of a broken water valve. The closure will last from 9 to 11:30 a.m. Tuesday.
Radio Sage
This week’s bonus audio question comes from John Drummond, of Fort Wayne, who asked about Aboite Center Road. The segment originally aired Friday on WOWO and can be found online at www.journalgazette.net/roadsage.
