MICHIGAN CITY - Both the Board of Public Works and Safety and the Redevelopment Commission have granted approval for City Planner Craig Phillips and Primera Engineers to move forward with the next step in converting Pine, Washington and Ninth streets to two-way traffic.
The project can now solicit bids for the actual construction work to be performed. According to Brad Minnick of Primera Engineers, the majority of the project should be complete by late fall, with minor work yet to be completed in the spring.
He said one of the benefits of waiting until spring to consider the project complete is the ability to monitor the new traffic pattern and make minor changes under the existing contract if necessary.
Phillips said the project will move forward with the design that came from a public workshop held recently - with one exception. During a special meeting of the Board of Public Works and Safety, board members Steve Janus and Michael Palmer expressed concern about the proposed flow of traffic on Washington Street.
According to the design, traffic on Washington Street will consist of one lane of traffic in either direction south from Second Street. A center turn lane is planned between Ninth and Second streets.
The concern raised by Janus and Palmer proposed for the turn lane to continue all the way to 11th Street to help alleviate traffic which seems to be heavy at times attempting to make a left-hand turn toward Franklin Street - primarily people leaving Washington Park or Lighthouse Place Premium Outlets.
The solution, which was proposed and accepted by both the board and the engineers, is to install a stop light with an arrow for southbound traffic turning left and a delayed signal for the northbound traffic flow.
When the project is complete, Pine Street will be one lane of traffic in either direction with a center-turn lane. Bike lanes also will be created in either direction from Second Street south to 11th Street.
Ninth Street will be one lane in either direction extending west to the Chicago Street intersection.
The project will be completed in three phases, with the most substantial work being completed during Phase 1 north of U.S. 12, Phillips said, as more of an intersection will need to be created where Pine and Washington streets meet Franklin Street, in addition to the removal of a median.
South of U.S. 12, he said, will primarily consist of signage and striping.
During the second phase, traffic on Washington and Pine streets will be shifted to the inside lanes while work is done on the outside. Phase 3 is the opposite, with traffic pushed to the outside while work is being done.