GOSHEN -- The Indiana Department of Transportation released a draft of the state's 2010-2013 statewide plan Monday, and it includes $130 million in federal, state and local spending on projects in Elkhart County.
The plan is divided into two parts, major construction projects and state preservation/local projects. Both parts are available on the INDOT Web site, www.in.gov/indot, along with a form to submit comments.
There's also an open house today from 1 to 5 p.m. at the INDOT Fort Wayne office, 5333 Hatfield Road. The plan will be available to review and planners will be there to answer one-on-one questions and receive comments.
MAJOR PROJECTS
On the major projects list, the U.S. 33 widening from downtown Goshen to the southeast is one of the local projects, though this one has some dates assigned to it. Right-of-way acquisition would start in 2011, with just under $6 million spent in 2011-2013, according to the plan.
The project will be built in 2015 and 2016, according to Toni Mayo, spokeswoman for INDOT. There's $36 million set aside for construction costs.
The first phase of planned expansion of U.S. 20 shows up on the plan, though only for "illustrative purposes." That $15 million project will extend the four-lane stretch of the U.S. 20 Bypass east to S.R. 15, but has no construction date assigned to it.
Long-term plans call for eventual widening of U.S. 20 between S.R. 15 and C.R. 35, just west of Middlebury.
SMALLER PROJECTS
Here are some of the highlights of projects listed in the second section of the plan over the next four years. They're a mix of maintenance projects and local projects with federal funding, which is administered by INDOT.
ELKHART:
* The Prairie Street railroad overpass between Main and Middlebury Streets is slated for construction in 2012, with a price tag of $21.6 million.
* Railroad crossings at Hively Avenue, Lusher Avenue, Michigan Street and McDonald Street will get roughly $1.35 million in improvements starting in 2013.
* Nappanee Street will see major work, nearly $20 million worth, in 2010 and 2011, with road reconstruction between Lusher Avenue and Bypass Road. The work will include more than $1 million in work on the bridge over the Elkhart River in 2011
GOSHEN:
* The Peddlers Village Road railroad crossing will get $350,000 in construction work in 2010.
* The intersection of S.R. 15 and C.R. 26 will get upgrades in 2012.
NAPPANEE:
* U.S. 6 will get a median between Tomahawk Drive to Guiss Street in 2010.
* U.S. 6 will also get new pavement from Guiss Street to east of Oakland Avenue in 2011, and S.R. 19 will get pavement work the same year from the south city limits to a half-mile north of downtown.
BRISTOL:
* S.R. 120, from Middleton Run Road in Elkhart to S.R. 13 north of Middlebury, will see nearly $4 million in pavement work in 2010.
MIDDLEBURY:
* S.R. 13 south of town, from U.S. 20 to S.R. 4, will be reconstructed for $4.5 million in 2013.