U.S. 31 Project Summary Status, June 2007

St. Joseph/Marshall County EIS:

            After announcing the completion of the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) on February 27, 2004, and holding public meetings on the DEIS in March, the Indiana Department of Transportation reviewed all comments surrounding the three alternatives outlined in the DEIS. A preferred alternative announcement was announced on September 23, 2004. The required mitigation package for the preferred alternative was then released in late October, 2004. INDOT announced the signature of the FEIS in April, 2006, with the Record of Decision announced on June 29, 2006..

What's Next: Design on two bridges has already begun in house, including the one at Plymouth/Goshen Road and the one at 6 Road. An RFP for the design, permitting, and right of way acquisition has been awarded to RW Armstrong. The notice to proceed was given on this contract, and the consultants are preparing the construction sequence of the various segments of the road.  It is likely that construction will start in the middle of the segment, then move to the southern portion of the project, then return to the north.  When determined, a schedule for land acquisition will be developed.

Howard County/Kokomo EIS:

The consulting firm Parsons Transportation Group has completed the Purpose and Need Statement and the Preliminary Alternatives and Screening Report for Kokomo, as well as the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS). The DEIS advanced two primary corridors east of existing U.S. 31 and the City of Kokomo with two connecting segments, as well as a no-build option. The addition of the connections allow for maximum mitigation in the event that one of the primary corridors is discarded. INDOT has announced their selection of Route J, and is looking for local input on the location of interchanges. A public hearing was held on November 28, 2006 on the supplemental DEIS. 

What's Next: The ROD was recently signed by the Federal Highway Administration.  INDOT is proceeding with the design work, permitting, and right of way work immediately, with a contract given to American Consulting in November, 2006. Notice to proceed will be given shortly, and the construction and land acquisition sequencing will be developed in the next couple of months.

Hamilton County EIS:

           After releasing the DEIS in 2004, and revising the interchange options based on the resulting comments, INDOT announced in July, 2005 that the Hamilton County portion would be rescoped to fit within a $250 million budget. INDOT has reviewed the viability of several options within the rescoping, including an alternative that includes roundabouts instead of interchanges, and found that the original freeway design will continue.  

What's Next: After completing their feasibility study of the alternatives, INDOT issued an RFP to finish the environmental work early in 2007. RW Armstrong, partnering with Parsons Brinkerhoff, was recently awarded the contract.  This contract will also provide for the preparation of the engineers report, right of way acquisition, and utility coordination. The environmental work is expected to be completed by June, 2008. While the consultant is using the preferred alternative decided upon previously, they are recalculating traffic counts and other data to reflect the community as it now exists.  Right of way acquisition will start when the Record of Decision is published.