News and Updates
May 2007
Lt. Governor says, "Smooth Sailing Between Indianapolis and South Bend"
US 31 Howard County Environmental Work Complete
 | Members of the US 31 Coalition joined Lt. Governor Becky Skillman and state officials on May 18th in her announcement of the Kokomo/Howard County US 31 Record of Decisions (known as a "ROD"). After three years of intense work to evaluate the best route and to identify mitigation for impacts, the Lt. Governor told the large crowd that, "Today I hold in my hand the Federal Highway Administration Record of Decision - the green light to go forward....on one of the largest projects in Major Moves." She continued by describing the numerous economic benefits that will derive from the completed project for both existing and new businesses, saying that good transportation infrastructure will allow Indiana to become a "global leader". |
Lt. Governor Skillman reminded the crowd that these benefits come from the removal of stoplights and dangerous intersections that stop free flowing traffic. Brad Bagwell, Howard County Commissioner and Secretary of the US 31 Coalition also spoke, saying, "This is a great moment for Howard County. This section will be part of the freeway between Indianapolis and South Bend, and the US 31 Coalition will continue its work towards the completion of the full freeway." With the environmental work complete, the Indiana Department of Transportation has hired American Structurepoint to design the project. Land acquisition will begin in 2008, and construction will start in 2009. For a full rendering of the project, please go to www.us31kokomo.com/Maps.aspx |  |
News and Updates April 2007
U.S. 31 COALITION HOLDS LEGISLATIVE DAY
Coalition hears about INDOT's billion dollar investment in US 31.
 | The Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) Commissioner Karl Browning spoke to the U.S. 31 Coalition yesterday about his agency's $1.2 billion commitment to the new freeway U.S. 31 project, the largest in INDOT's ten year plan. Commissioner Browning discussed the dates for construction along the corridor (below), and further told the group that he is working to find ways to accelerate the construction dates even more. Commissioner Browning shared how he was pleased to be able to deliver a project that has been needed for forty years, with many in the room working diligently that entire time for the upgrade.
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INDOT staff also provided information about the status of the preconstruction work needed to meet the Department's timelines. The design and land acquisition contract has been signed for the work in St. Joseph and Marshall Counties, and will begin in Howard County within the next month. The Hamilton County contract to finish the environmental, as well as the design and land acquisition will likely be signed within the next month. INDOT plans to use the Hamilton County corridor agreed upon in the draft environmental work, but wherever roundabouts will work along the corridor, they will be included to minimize economic impacts and maximize safety and community. U.S. 31 Coalition Executive Director Dennis Faulkenberg said of the legislative day, "I am so pleased to hear of INDOT's tremendous investment in the U.S. 31 corridor, signaling the importance they give to the project."
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St. Joseph/Marshall Counties: http://www.in.gov/dot/div/projects/us31/study/
Howard County: http://www.us31kokomo.com/maps.aspx
Hamilton County: http://www.in.gov/dot/div/projects/us31/hamiltoncounty/maps.html
For additional information about the U.S. 31 project please call Dennis Faulkenberg at (317) 236-2168 or e-mail us31@mail.com.
The US 31 Coalition is a group of citizens, companies, and elected officas who are dedicated to the upgrading of US 31 to a free flowing thoroughfare connecting US 20 in St. Joseph county to I-465 in Marion County. It's membership includes 9 Cities, 6 Counties, and over 25 Companies located in and near the US 31 corridor in northern and central Indiana.