New I-69 ramps planned for Union Chapel

FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WANE) - The Indiana Department of Transportation got the green light to move ahead with drawing up plans to add a ramp from I-69 to Union Chapel Road and revamp the Dupont Road exit.

INDOT said Dupont Road and I-69 is already busy and will get even busier when Parkview Regional Medical Center opens in 2012.

"There's going to be a significant increase in traffic in that area, so something needs to be done," INDOT spokesperson Stacie McCormick said.

Parkview estimated around 4,000 more vehicles will travel through the area every day once the medical center opens.

To help keep traffic flowing, INDOT plans to revamp the highway exit at the intersection and change it into a Diverging Diamond Interchange. It would be the first interchange of its kind in Indiana.

"Signals at the top of the ramp and having traffic criss cross at the top allows traffic to keep moving and flow better. It gives more green time, which means not as much stop and go," McCormick said.

But, McCormick said fixing up the Dupont exit isn't enough to combat the influx of traffic that Parkview will bring. She said it's also necessary to build a new interchange a mile north of Dupont around mile marker 117 at Union Chapel Road.

"We are looking at both of these because they are both necessary with accessibility and safety being our top two concerns," McCormick said.

Tuesday the Urban Transportation Advisory Board gave INDOT the go-ahead to start drawing up plans.

"We don't have a lot of details of how it will look, but we know we are going to proceed," McCormick said.

The round-about style interchange at Union Chapel will likely cause some people who live next to the highway to move.

INDOT will hold a public hearing in early 2011 for people to voice concerns about the project, but McCormick said the opinions likely wouldn't stop the interchange from happening.

"If they made up their mind they want to do it, they're going to do it. You live with it and do the best you can," Ken Bechler said.

Bechler's lived in his house right next to I-69 for 39 years. He built most of the house himself. He remembers when the state bought land from people to build the interstate through the area.

"It's one of those things that you have no choice. There's no need to fight it. You're not going to make it," Bechler said.

Fort Wayne City Councilwoman Karen Goldner (D) represents the 2nd District, which includes the Union Chapel intersection.

She said INDOT did model comparisons of just fixing the Dupont Road interchange and fixing Dupont with adding the Union Chapel interchange.

"I don't know that you get a significantly improved performance by putting in the interchange at Union Chapel. Of course if you add an interchange it will improve traffic flow at Dupont, but it doesn't seem that significant," Goldner said.

She wants INDOT to explain the need for the interchange better at the public hearings.

"I hope INDOT can make a stronger comment on why they need to spend the money for what, in a layperson's assessment, is a marginal improvement," Goldner said.

McCormick said INDOT expects construction at Union Chapel to be in full swing in 2012. Construction on revamping Dupont would happen when Union Chapel's finished.

Parkview Health is also helping to pay for the Union Chapel interchange.

McCormick said because the plans are in early stages, she didn't have a dollar amount for either project. It's also unclear how many homes would be affected by adding the interchange.