MISHAWAKA — If you go south on Grape Road at the wrong time of day or year, you know things can get backed up at Edison Road.

The right lane is especially a problem.

"The first guy wants to go straight and the next six want to turn," said Gary West, director of engineering for the city of Mishawaka.

City officials have wanted to add a right-turn lane there for years, he said.

But a big utility tower that holds an Indiana Michigan Power high-power electric line sits within a few feet of Grape Road, between City Wide Liquor and Alltronics Plaza, which houses the Star of India restaurant.

Officials have finally solved that problem.

The Mishawaka Board of Public Works and Safety last week agreed to pay the utility company $197,362 to move the tower 20 feet back from the road.

West said owners of the Marathon service station on the corner are modernizing and have agreed to give the city right of way for the turn lane.

That led West and other city officials to start working in earnest, trying to get the tower moved.

"Now we can go back and talk to other property owners" about acquiring a right of way for the lane, West said.

He said it will take the utility company seven to eight months to get the tower moved.

The bill is being paid with money from the Northwest Tax Increment Finance district.

That is tax money captured from any building or improvements to property in the district that includes Grape Road and North Main Street.