Published: May 21, 2008 11:59 pm            

Highway 41 project to cost $5.9M

Officials give construction ceremonial start

TERRE HAUTE — An interchange improvement project at U.S. 41 and Interstate 70 may cause some temporary traffic headaches, but in the long run, it will improve traffic flow and ease congestion, officials said Wednesday.

In a related project, the city is creating a park-like “gateway entry” at the interchange’s northwest quadrant.

State and local officials conducted a ceremonial groundbreaking for the Major Moves project. The total project cost, including the city’s gateway entry, is $5.9 million.

The project “will make it safer and easier for motorists to travel through this area,” said Alan Plunkett, Crawfordsville District deputy commissioner with the Indiana Department of Transportation.

The project will add dual left turn lanes on U.S. 41 for eastbound and westbound traffic onto I-70, and the on-ramps will be widened. Now, during peak traffic periods, motorists can be backed up on U.S. 41 as they wait to make left turns onto I-70.

The project also includes a trail-like sidewalk along the west side of the interchange, as well as landscaping and beautification of the four quadrants of the interchange.

In addition, the interchange project will provide greater clearance for trucks that travel under the I-70 overpass.

Plunkett asked for everyone’s patience as the project proceeds. It starts this week, with completion set for July 30, 2009.

Within a few weeks, northbound lanes on U.S. 41 will be closed at the interchange, and traffic will be shifted to the southbound lanes. Throughout construction, there will be two lanes of traffic maintained in each direction.

When that work is completed, southbound lanes will be closed — with traffic shifted to northbound lanes.

“Nobody likes to be delayed, but when the product is finished, I think it will be a product that everybody will like,” Plunkett said.

INDOT representatives have met with businesses in the area to assure them the state will work closely with them to minimize inconveniences, Plunkett said.

The project is much welcomed, said Terre Haute Mayor Duke Bennett. “I think everybody is looking forward to anything on the south end of town that will help move traffic,” he said.

Most of the project is funded through the governor’s Major Moves program. The city’s gateway entry project will cost about $711,000, using both city and federal highway funds.

The gateway entry, designed by the Green 3 landscape architectural firm, calls for filling in a drainage ditch, although the site will feature a channel of water. The gateway will be landscaped and have a trail-type sidewalk that eventually will extend on the west side of U.S. 41 from Third Street and Margaret Avenue to the Honey Creek Mall area, said Pat Martin, city planner.

The gateway entry will be a significant improvement for that area, Bennett said.

For motorists exiting westbound I-70, “It will look good when you get off the highway and see that. It will be one of the first impressions you have of Terre Haute,” he said.

Now, the drainage ditch at the site is referred to as the “snake pit” because it used to be a home to several garter snakes until they were removed. The snakes became a nuisance to a nearby business.

The city will maintain the gateway entry, Bennett said.

INDOT will plant wildflowers in the other three interchange quadrants, Martin said.

The gateway project will cost $711,000. That includes $398,000 in federal funds, which called for a $100,000 match from the city. The city received a credit based on expenditures for preliminary engineering/design work, Martin said. In addition, the city is using $211,000 from a new trail and greenway fund.

The primary contractor for the interchange project is Crider and Crider of Bloomington. The project was designed by VS Engineering of Indianapolis.

While road restrictions are in place, motorists might want to consider finding alternative routes, said Kenny Franklin, INDOT project manager.

Those who continue to drive U.S. 41 should be prepared for some minor delays while traffic restrictions are in place, Franklin said.

The interchange work and gateway entry are two separate projects, but the city and INDOT agreed to work cooperatively, officials said.

Sue Loughlin can be reached at (812) 231-4235 or sue.loughlin@tribstar.com.

        

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