Kokomo Corridor plans becoming reality

Though the Kokomo Corridor project is still a year away from beginning its trek across eastern Howard County, planning is moving along at breakneck speed.

Engineers last week unveiled the new alignment for the "northern terminus" of the 13-mile corridor, along with plans for a 4-mile stretch in the southern part of the county.

Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels is formulating the list of projects he'll submit for federal stimulus funding, and has yet to say whether the Kokomo Corridor will be on the list.

Officially, Daniels has until next March to list how he plans to obligate more than $440 million in stimulus funding, but he's vowed to have his list ready by May.

That's why engineers on the corridor project are trying to combine speed with accuracy. Right now, the project isn't scheduled to be finished until 2015. Stimulus funding could move that schedule forward.

Tuesday, the Indiana Department of Transportation hosted the latest in an ongoing series of informational meetings, highlighting changes at the northern and southern ends of the corridor.

Also last week, the Howard County Commissioners signed a contract agreement with INDOT to begin purchasing right-of-way on Boulevard from Goyer Road to the corridor.

That work is taking place in anticipation of an interchange, scheduled for completion in mid-2011, linking Boulevard with the new corridor.

New interchange plans

Original plans for the Kokomo Corridor included a "spaghetti bowl" where U.S. 35 currently turns west toward Galveston. Three major roads - the "old bypass," the Kokomo Corridor and U.S. 35 - were all going to come together in one complicated interchange.

However, engineers finally spiked that idea and opted to realign U.S. 35 so it joins the Kokomo Corridor further east, and further south.

"It was a mess, because we had the current bypass, the new 31 and U.S. 35 all coming into the same interchange," INDOT spokeswoman Aimee Kindred said Thursday. "It made for very confusing traffic movements."

Motorists should have an easier time navigating the new alignment, she said.

"It will be County Road 400 to the east, and U.S. 35 to the west of the new highway."

At the southern end of the corridor in Tipton County, INDOT officials simply moved the interchange a half mile to the north. Instead of the corridor merging with the current U.S. 31 at Tipton County Road 550 North, the merge will instead be located at Tipton County Road 600 North.

Kindred said that eliminated the need to take commercial properties - mainly the Robert Miller & Son furniture store - and also allowed 600 North to pass over the corridor in a single spot.

Under the former alignment, INDOT would have had to build two separate bridges, so the new alignment will also save money.

As far as bridge work goes, Howard County residents are already becoming familiar with two projects.

A road closure will begin some time this week on County Road 50 North (Carter Street), where a bridge is slated to carry the road over the corridor.

And construction crews have already completed part of a bridge structure where County Road 200 South (Southway Boulevard) will pass over the corridor. That roadway has been closed to through traffic for weeks.

On the Boulevard

John Spidell, vice president of Indianapolis engineering firm Butler, Fairman & Seufert, said the contract is for the appraisal, review and the cost of the property along Boulevard.

The federal government is providing 80 percent of the cost with Howard County paying the remaining 20 percent.

Spidell said the county will hire an appraiser who will be reviewed and approved by the state.

"Once that approval is obtained the county can purchase the property," he said. "The purchase of right-of-way could begin in the next month."

Spidell said the hope is that work on improving Boulevard to the new interchange on the U.S. 31 expressway will start this year or early in 2010.

"The hope is to have the county work being done at the same time the state is working on the interchange," he said.

The intent is to widen Boulevard to five lanes, two in each direction and a center turn lane.

INDOT is scheduled to award a contract for the interchange work in December.

Another contract, which runs from the Boulevard interchange to one-half mile north of Ind. 26, will be awarded next February, and should be completed around the same time as the Boulevard interchange contract.

The stretch between Ind. 26 and Boulevard will pass over 300 South, Kokomo Creek and the Scott-Youngman Ditch.

Larry Ives, director of the Kokomo-Howard County Governmental Coordinating Council, said the county can apply for federal funds to help pay for the purchase of the right-of-way, but said it could be cheaper to use a local consulting firm.

If federal funds are used, the process will allow consulting firms from across the country to bid for the contract.

Ives said INDOT has set an October bid letting for an upgrade of Dixon Road from Sycamore Street to Judson Road. The county is receiving $2 million in federal stimulus dollars for the project.

"Boulevard is the next project in our Transportation Improvement Plan," he said. "We want to have the project shovel ready in case more stimulus funds are made available."

Ives said the upgrade has been estimated at $3.6 million. He expects INDOT to award a contract for the Boulevard project in 2010.

Howard County will hire American Structurepoint to study needed upgrades to the Kokomo and county comprehensive plans.

American Structurepoint will study and make recommendations on future zoning and land use along the expressway route. It will include the existing U.S. 31 to keep it attractive in retaining businesses on the corridor.

The company will study and make recommendations on the interchanges at Boulevard, Markland Avenue (Ind. 22), Touby Pike and Ind. 26.

County officials intend to direct motorists on the expressway to the existing U.S. 31 for restaurants, shopping and motel rooms.