Clinton Street back open

FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WANE) Clinton Street/US 27 reopened Friday morning. While traffic is now flowing south on Clinton Street into downtown Fort Wayne, the Spy Run detour hasn't been taken down.

There are barricades up to keep people from turning right onto Spy Run Avenue, as the detour had been set up, but the lane is still blocked off in case someone tries to make that right turn out of habit.

All three lanes on Clinton were reopened Friday, but people still cannot make a right turn onto Jacob Street or a left turn onto Elizabeth Street.

The project is not completely done, however. There will be lane restrictions in the future as contractors work to rebuild approaches to Jacob and Elizabeth Streets. There is also grading landscaping and street lighting work that needs to be completed. The projected is expected to be finished in late October.

US 27 was closed in March in order to replace the bridge over Spy Run Creek. The bridge has been raised about seven feet in order to address flooding issues. The curves of the roadway have also been softened in order to improve driver safety.

The road reopening was not only good news for drivers who use Clinton Street a lot, it was also a relief for the Lassus Handy Dandy gas station at the corner of State and Clinton.

"I've been waiting for this day for five and a half months," Mike Biberstine, the in-store trainer, said. "I was really happy."

Biberstine said sales slowed down when the road was blocked off.

"People could get in, but couldn't get out of the parking lot," he said. "Not a lot of the Hoosier hospitality any more. People would have to wait ten to 15 minutes to get out and a lot of people were late for work."

But, once the road reopened Friday morning, Biberstine said business was already bouncing back.

"I've already noticed an increase in sales," he said. "Construction workers were coming in, motorists were coming in. We've already picked up some of our customers who hadn't been coming."

INDOT reminds drivers that US 27 will still be a construction zone and asks drivers to use caution and consider worker safety when driving through.

For more on INDOT, visit www.in.gov/indot . You can find traffic restriction information at www.trafficwise.IN.gov .  Contact the Fort Wayne District toll free at 866-227-3555.