Allen County gets $6.5M in federal money for Fogwell Parkway project
Greater Fort Wayne Business Weekly
Allen County’s plans to reconstruct and upgrade a 1-mile section of the Fogwell Parkway in Lafayette Township used for General Motors suppliers and others have received a major boost, with millions of dollars now and more money coming later.
The Indiana Department of Transportation sent county officials a letter that said federal funds totaling more than $6.5 million have been awarded for the project, according to a statement from the Allen County government public information office.
INDOT also said in its letter that funding for other phases of the project will be awarded later.
The total project cost estimate, including engineering, is $8.9 million. The federal aid award covers 80 percent of the construction and inspection costs. The project is expected to be bid in late 2023.
The county plans to reconstruct the section of four-lane road from Lafayette Center Road to Winters Road with new pavement underdrains, curb and gutter, and upgrades to guardrail, signs and drainage as needed.
Fogwell Parkway has been damaged from years of heavy truck traffic, an ineffectual original underdrain system, and adverse weather effects, according to the statement.
The highway serves several companies — including the General Motors Fort Wayne Assembly plant — that rely heavily on it in their daily operations. In its application for funding, the county highway department cited its concern that if the pavement deterioration continues, driving on the road will become hazardous for drivers — possibly resulting in damage to vehicles and cargo, according to the statement.
“It is great to see that both the state and federal governments through this award are recognizing the economic impact that improving our roads within this corridor is continuing to have in southwest Allen County and the rest of the northeast Indiana region,” said Commissioner Nelson Peters in the statement.
“The Board of Commissioners and the (county) highway department are committed to providing and maintaining a safe, efficient and serviceable roadway system for the residents and businesses of Allen County,” said Bill Hartman, Allen County Highway Department director in the statement. “The work proposed in our application is consistent with the county’s overall strategy toward that end.”
