PLYMOUTH -- Planners narrowed the alternative routes that will extend 7th Road from Pine Road to Linden Road and connect Plymouth to an interchange on the new U.S. 31.
Currently, nearly a three-mile gap exists between 7th Road on the west side of U.S. 31 and 7th Road on the east side of U.S. 31.
Two alternative 7th Road corridor routes were taken off the table after reviewing public input that indicated the routes would be too disruptive to property owners.
During a second public information meeting Monday night in the Marshall County Commission room, project and environmental planners highlighted the two routes left that will be the main focus.
Both those routes push north of the existing 7B Road between Michigan and Lilac roads where the majority of residents are impacted.
The area also includes the Irish Inn and Plymouth Rock Golf Course.
The project will cost about $14.5 million, including about $1.4 million in right-of-way acquisitions, which is mostly farmland.
Twenty-three parcels will be affected.
The county will own the road and be responsible for a 20 percent match of the federally funded project. The city of Plymouth is also a shareholder.
Residents have until Jan. 18 to submit public input on the alternatives. The alternative to scrap the project also remains, but isn’t likely.
After public input was received in August, 48 percent of people who commented were in favor of alternate “A” and 57 percent were opposed to any use of the existing 7B Road or 7th Road, whether east of Michigan or west of Oak roads.
Therefore, routes “B” and “C” were taken off the board. A fourth “D” route was added that follows the alignment of alternative “A” but pushes farther north near Michigan Road to Lilac before realigning to Linden.
Alternates “A” and “D” have the least residential displacements and noise impact receivers.
The final route could be determined as soon as February. Construction for Phase I would begin in the summer of 2014 with completion in 2015.
Phase I includes completing the corridor from Linden Road east of U.S. 31 to Michigan Road on the west. The second phase of the project will be to extend the road from Michigan to Pine Road.
The two-lane road will have improved intersections, possibly with four roundabouts, said USI project manager Gregory Wendling.
The routes can be viewed by going to USI’s website at: http://usiconsultants.com/MarshallCoStatus.html.
With the new U.S. 31 limited access freeway between U.S. 20 in South Bend and U.S. 30 in Plymouth, other highway interchanges will be located at Kern Road, Indiana 4 and U.S. 6.
The road built to connect 7th Road with the U.S. 31 interchange between U.S. 6 and U.S. 30 will provide east and west access for emergency responders, school buses, and the general circulation of local and regional traffic.
The road also completes a comprehensive plan prepared for the city of Plymouth recommending an extension of 7th Road between Pine Road and King Road to serve as a major collector road.
Comments on the Marshall County 7th Road Corridor from Pine Road to Linden Road can be mailed to USI Consultants, 8415 E. 56th St., Indianapolis, IN 46216; faxed to 317-544-4997; or e-mailed to gwendling@usiconsultants.com. Provide your name, address and description number 0810140.
