Major Fort Wayne road to be redesigned

FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WANE) - The city wants to redo a portion of State Boulevard and is holding open houses to show the community its progress.

The city will hold its first open house Monday at Franke Pond Pavillion.

Since 2009, there have been talks on improving State Boulevard between Cass Street and Spy Run Avenue in the Brookview neighborhood.

 "It's an area where there have been a number of accidents over the years," said Frank Suarez, the Public Information Officer for the City of Fort Wayne. "It's also where there's been a lot of flooding, and it has a bridge that is one of the lowest rated bridges in the county and needs to be replaced."

A portion of the project entails straightening out the road making it safer for pedestrians and drivers. Suarez said it will also allow for easier access into neighborhoods for residents.

"Residents won't have to sit and worry about being rear-ended which has happened many times," Suarez said.

Some residents have raised concerns of the road becoming busier because there are numerous students who walk to school in the area, but the city believes they have a solution. Suarez said some of the design projects incorporated a park strip that separates the sidewalk from the road, so there is a landscape barrier.

However, city officials said through petitions filed, the majority of residents in the area seem to be in favor of the project.
 

Details for the three open houses are:

February 25, 2013, 5:00 PM- 7:00 PM
Franke Pond Pavilion
Franke Parke
3411 Sherman Boulevard

March 1, 2013 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM
Main Branch ACPL
Meeting Room A, 900 Library Plaza

March 7, 2013 5:00 PM- 7:00 PM
Psi Ote Barn - Lower Level
Bob Arnold - Northside Park
E. State Blvd. & Parnell Avenue