SOUTH BEND — The city is spending more than $2 million on improvements at the intersection of McKinley Avenue and Ironwood Drive on the East Side. Local drivers, neighbors and city workers say the improvements have been a long time coming.

"Sitting through two lights is kind of a pain," one driver told WSBT.

"Too much traffic for the number of travel lanes," explained City Engineer Carl Littrell.

"Any improvement would be good," acknowledged another driver.

From long lines to more than a dozen accidents each year, the intersection at McKinley and Ironwood is an inconvenience for
everyone.

"Actually Ironwood is a one-lane road but everybody treats it like a two-lane road," explained Lynne Avrett, who lives in a nearby neighborhood.

"That's one thing I can't stand," explained one driver. "Everyone trying to get ahead of everybody."

Rght now the intersection is designed so only one direction of traffic gets the green light at one time. But the scheduled improvements will bring big changes.

Littrell said the plans include a five-lane intersection in each direction — a left turn lane and two thru lanes.

Construction crews will also install new curbs, sidewalks, landscaping, street lighting and a new drainage system. At least three times over the past two years, city engineers have met with neighbors about plans to improve the intersection.

"The neighbors would like to see the traffic go away," explained Littrell. "Were hoping these improvements we're making will ease the traffic that really won't go anywhere else."

Many people who live near McKinley and Ironwood say the changes are long overdue.

However, some neighbors told WSBT people who live on the northwest corner of the intersection are a little upset about the property they'll lose during the construction.

Survey crews should be at the intersection next week, and digging will begin shortly after that. The construction is scheduled to be complete by Thanksgiving.

Carl Littrell said neither road will close for the construction, but traffic will be restricted.