About a year remains before one of the largest local road projects is complete.
Q. I can see the Maplecrest extension is moving along as concrete is now being poured. Is there a completion date set? What traffic control will there be at Lake and Maplecrest? – Richard Lafferty
A. Your observations aren’t failing you, Richard.
The Maplecrest extension project is 60 percent complete with the entire project scheduled to be done by next fall. When finished, the 1.46-mile four-lane road will connect Maplecrest Road south to Adams Center Road in New Haven.
The project will include four bridges, a modernized signal with Indiana 930, curbs and gutters and a 10-foot rail on the east side. In addition, there will be a new traffic signal at Maplecrest and Lake Avenue. Such a signal is pretty much required with the amount of traffic expected from both directions.
A signal will also be installed at Maplecrest’s intersection with Nelson Road.
The project was awarded to Primco based on its bid of $28.8 million, but several large change orders have increased the cost to more than $30 million. This is still far lower than what was originally anticipated.
I know I am personally excited to have this road open, making my travels south and east a bit easier.
Q. With more vehicles turning left onto Clinton from Parnell, are there any plans to reconstruct the intersection so there are left-turn and straight-through lanes? There can be a lot of traffic leaving Northcrest, which leaves Parnell backed up if several cars are turning left. – Nedra Curry, Fort Wayne
A. Unfortunately, such a change doesn’t appear to happen anytime soon.
Shan Gunawardena, city traffic engineer, said the city conducted a traffic count of the area that showed the vast majority of vehicles – 84 percent – turn right onto Clinton Street from Parnell Avenue. He said less than 2 percent of vehicles tried to turn left onto Clinton with the remaining going straight into the shopping center.
While I can understand while having to wait a long time for a signal can be frustrating, delaying the majority of vehicles wouldn’t make sense for such a small number of ones going the other direction. I’d try to find a different route if this becomes too frustrating.
Auburn closure
The Indiana Department of Transportation will close Indiana 8 between Grandstaff Drive and County Road 39 just east of Auburn for a local fair. The road will be closed from midnight Sunday through 6 p.m. Oct. 2. A marked detour will add a half-mile for through traffic.
Radio Sage
This week’s audio question comes from Kelli Vielhuber, who wrote about the interchange of Dupont Road and Interstate 69. The segment originally aired Friday afternoon and can be found online at www.journalgazette.net/roadsage.
