State to proceed with S.R. 23 project

By YaSHEKIA SMALLS, Tribune Staff Writer

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By Tiffany Griffin

Story Created: Mar 20, 2008 at 6:33 AM EST

Story Updated: Mar 20, 2008 at 8:19 AM EST

GRANGER — The Indiana Department of Transportation’s plans to proceed with the second phase of a project to add travel lanes on Indiana 23 has a Granger business owner taking steps to propose an alternative plan.

The department this week as expected announced it will proceed with the $5.8 million project from about 890 feet southwest of the Adams Road intersection to about 320 feet east of Bittersweet Trail. The decision arrives after officials reviewed all comments and materials received during a public hearing in January.

The entire existing roadway will be replaced with asphalt pavement and include two through lanes in each direction, a two-way left turn lane median, curb and gutter, concrete sidewalks on both sides and new storm sewers. A short section of raised median also will be provided just east of the railroad crossing to discourage vehicles from driving around the crossing arms.

But Evonne Corbett, co-owner of Yesterday’s restaurant, said Wednesday she plans to write letters to InDOT, Gov. Mitch Daniels, Sen. Joe Zakas, state Rep. Tim Neese, St. Joseph County Council member Dale DeVon and County Commissioner Mark Dobson requesting that a design idea by Ken Herceg & Associates Inc. be placed at the Harris Branch Library through April. She said many residents oppose InDOT’s plan, asking, “Who has decided this?”

Herceg in January shared plans conceived about two years ago that include a two-lane bridge over the Grand Trunk Western Railroad track, two lanes at ground level and roundabouts at Adams and Bittersweet.

Joshua Bingham, of InDOT’s LaPorte district office, said Wednesday that “it’s too late in the process for that,” and Herceg said he’s not pushing the concept because InDOT’s “going to do what they decided to do.”

Construction is set to start in March 2009 and end September 2010. Work between Brick and Gumwood roads started last year with an expected completion date of November 2008, and work between Brick and Adams (third phase) should begin in 2011.

InDOT’s final design report for this project is available at the St. Joseph County engineer’s office in the County-City Building, Room 732, 227 W. Jefferson Blvd., South Bend. For additional information, contact InDOT’s public hearings office at (317) 234-0796.

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