FORT WAYNE, Ind. (ADAMS) – On Thursday, Mayor Sharon Tucker and Public Works Director Shan Gunawardena announced a record of nearly $49 million in neighborhood infrastructure improvements that occurred throughout the community this construction season.
Next year, the City has a planned infrastructure investment of $41.5 million, which includes $31.7 million for streets/roads/bridges, $7.5 million for sidewalks and alleys, and $2.3 million for trails.
Since 2014, the City has invested more than $346 million in neighborhood infrastructure enhancements.
The following was released to recap Thursday’s event:
The Liberty Mills Road Trail Project was highlighted. The project, which was completed in September, spans 0.75 miles from Middle Grove Road to the intersection of Falls Drive and Coventry Lane and connects southwest Fort Wayne trail users to several neighborhoods, businesses, and churches, including the Village at Coventry, Aboite Baptist Church, Kroger, Liberty Mills Church of the Nazarene, Zesto, Salsa Grille, and the Aboite Library.
At 10-feet wide, the trail accommodates bicyclists, walkers, runners, and users with mobility aids, ensuring a smooth and safe experience for all. Additional features of the trail include a boardwalk, ADA curb ramps, retaining walls, signage, a park bench and pavement markings.
The Liberty Mills Road Trail Project represents a $1.49 million investment and was funded through the Coventry Lane Tax Increment Financing (TIF) District and a portion of the City’s allocation of American Rescue Plan Act dollars. The contractor was API Construction Corp. and A&Z Engineering designed the trail.
Several property/business owners donated right of way for the trail. Partners included Frontier, John Diettrich Enterprises, Inc. (owner of Zesto Ice Cream), Dr. Fred and Christine Bokel of Fred E. Bokel, DDS, Family Dentistry, and Mark Hagerman, owner of the Aboite Corporation.
Liberty Mills Road Trail connects to 17.75 miles of existing trails in Aboite Township. The City of Fort Wayne now boasts 104 miles of trails within city limits, contributing to a total of 144 miles in the Fort Wayne Area Trails network.
In 2024, Fort Wayne invested a record $49 million in neighborhood infrastructure improvements, featuring more than 50 miles of street repairs and 22 streetlight enhancements. Read: https://bit.ly/3ZFwGmu
Posted by City of Fort Wayne Government on Thursday, December 12, 2024
In addition to this project, all four quadrants of the City saw enhancements through investments that included sidewalks, street lighting, concrete street reconstruction, asphalt resurfacing, chip and seal, trails, alleys and bridges.
Neighborhood infrastructure highlights:
*8 neighborhood street rehabilitation projects
*38.8 miles of contracted asphalt resurfacing (including several multi-lane arterials)
*12.8 miles of in-house asphalt resurfacing
*31 projects in study, design, permitting or land acquisition stage
*4 bridge rehabilitation/replacement projects
*1 brick street repair project
*22 concrete alley replacements
*4 new sidewalk construction projects
*5 new trail projects
*7 traffic projects
*22 street lighting projects
*3.8 miles of chip and seal to asphalt conversions
This list includes projects that were completed, still under construction, or bid in 2024
Projects carried forward from 2023:
*3 neighborhood street rehabilitation projects
*2 arterial street rehab projects
*1 trail project
*1 miscellaneous project
Looking ahead to 2025, residents and businesses will see a continuation of the City’s commitment to neighborhood infrastructure projects with a planned investment of $41.5 million, which includes $31.7 million for streets/roads/bridges, $7.5 million for sidewalks and alleys, and $2.3 million for trails. Since 2014, the City has invested more than $346 million in neighborhood infrastructure enhancements.
“We’re celebrating another outstanding construction season of meaningful neighborhood infrastructure improvements in all areas of our great city,” said Mayor Tucker. “Investing financial resources in neighborhoods is critical as part of our ongoing efforts to provide residents, businesses, and visitors with a safe and efficient transportation system. Public Works is committed to providing excellent services that enables Fort Wayne to be the best community possible, and I’m looking forward to another banner year of projects in 2025.”
Most of the trails in City limits are planned, designed, constructed and maintained by the City of Fort Wayne, under the leadership of Mayor Sharon Tucker.
Read more HERE
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