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Covering Milford, Syracuse & North Webster, Indiana Wednesday, July 26, 2023
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CR 1300N extension to be completed by June 2024 7H[W DQG 3KRWRV %\ '$9,' 6/21( 7LPHV 8QLRQ Editor’s Note: A public informational meeting was to be held at 4 p.m. but due to the number of people present the meeting was held around 3:30 p.m. Construction of the CR 1300N extension is expected to be completed by June 2024, officials said Wednesday, July 19, at a public information meeting on the project. Held in the Milford Community Building, the informal meeting was for two hours with a casual presentation in the first hour. A little over a dozen people attended, but people could stop by and ask questions as they wished from 3-5 p.m. Patrick Duncan, with Michael Baker International, the design company for the Local Tracks Kosciusko CR 1300N Extension, said with the road under construction, they wanted to have a meeting for local residents of Milford who are affected by the project to give the residents an opportunity to see what was planned. He said the road currently stops at Old SR 15 and then goes slightly to the north, crossing over the existing Main Street. Main Street will be slightly relocated closer to the railroad tracks. A single bridge will be built, crossing over the Norfolk Southern railroad tracks and the relocated Main Street, and then CR 1300N will continue on to the west and connect up to SR 15. Explaining the purpose and need of the project, he stated it’s “basically to give connectivity to the people of the Milford area.” It
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the project will finish up, barring any delays,” Duncan said. The closings and detours of the roads are set up and will stay in place through the duration of the project. SR 15 will be reduced to one lane, similar to how it was during NIPSCO’s utility work, starting July 31 and lasting about 60 days, he said. CR 1300N will not be open at that point, it’ll just be some of the “connector pieces” set up so that eventually when it’s opened up it’ll be ready to go. “Part of the work with the Local Tracks program is that they’re trying to reduce accidents at crossings by eliminating so many crossings and provide these grade separations to increase mobility and safety for the project,” Duncan said. “So, with that, we’ve got at-grade crossings East North Street, East South Street and East Fourth Street will be eventually closed. With the relocation of the CR 1300N over the tracks, /27 5(&21),*85$7,21 ³ 6WHYH 6Q\GHU RQ EHKDOI RI 5REHUW 5DW]·V HVWDWH DQG 0DWW %R\HU ZKR LV LQ they will have the ability to close FKDUJH RI WKH HVWDWH SUHVHQWHG WZR UHTXHVWV WR WKH ERDUG 7RQ\D &ORZ FDPH WR YRLFH VXSSRUW RI 6Q\GHU·V SUR some of these other crossings.” Andy Brown, representing the SRVHG YDULDQFH IRU ORW UHFRQÀJXUDWLRQ 0HPEHUV SLFWXUHG IURP OHIW %UDQGRQ :ROIHUPDQ 6FRWW $EEV DQG 0DWW contractor Phend & Brown, said *RRGQLJKW 3KRWR E\ 0DULVVD 6ZHDWODQG their plan originally was to get the bridge built and most of the job pretty well completed this year, but instead of the bridge work starting in April, it won’t get started until the middle of August for “various reasons.” He said they’re going to try to get as much done this year as they can, but it’s definitely not going to be estate and Matt Boyer, who is exception was approved by the able to be completed until 2024, %\ 0$5,66$ 6:($7/$1' in charge of the estate. The two board with the condition that with the actual completion date 6WDII :ULWHU properties are located at 303 W. storage does not exceed 25 feet at the end of June at this point. During its July 20 regular Hickory St., and 303 W. Boston from the street. If there are more delays, he said The variance would allow lot construction completion might be meeting, the Syracuse Board of St. Both requests were approved. Snyder stated in 1999, the ac- line reconfiguration to create a 5 pushed back a little further. Zoning Appeals had a full agenda. Steve Snyder presented two re- cessory building was allowed to foot setback for the residence to “To open up any of those roads quests on behalf of Robert Ratz’s be built as there was a residence the north and a 7 foot setback for over the winter, we would have on the same lot. At that time, it the structure on the Ratz parcel. to have them completely done, was stated, the property was not Clow, a neighbor to the accesso- striped, shouldered, signs, everyto be separated without previous ry building, came to the meeting thing to make them safe. We’re approval. The lot was separated to voice support of the variance. not promising that at this time,” in 2001. The owner of the new lot Without the variance, her garage Brown said. “There is a possibilat 303 W. Boston St., Tonya Clow, would technically be out of code. ity we could open the existing at some point added on to the ga- The value of lots are not in dan- CR 1300N pavement up, but the rage on the property going across ger with the approvals of the ex- problem with that is, we have the property line. ception and variance. to tear a part of that road up to Thus the request for an excepDarrin Burke came before the put the new road in. So if we get tion was made for the purpose of board to seek an exception for far enough along we put the new allowing an accessory building to the purpose of the alteration to a pavement in, 1300N won’t be able remain on a lot without a princi- previously granted exception by to be opened (on) the old alignpal structure in a residential dis- allowing the addition of sale of ment. So we just don’t know for trict at 303 W. Hickory St. and a boats, RVs and trailers in a com- sure how that’s going to go.” variance allowing lot line recon- Continued on page 2 figuration. The accessory building creates no traffic issue, and will be used for residential storage only. The also will provide a connection to motorists “to be able to connect across, provide better access to emergency vehicles and reduce delays that are caused by the train tracks.” Construction began in spring 2023. “In general, they constructed some of the embankments leading
up to the bridge on the west side and they’re beginning to bring the dirt to construction on the east side. Working with railroad to get access to start building the bridge, and that’s coming pretty soon. And then we’re looking to, basically, continue construction through this year and in through 2024 until June. So that’s when
Syracuse BZA approves lot reconfiguration
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The ramp on the west side is — for all practical purposes — completed, he said. They’re building the dirt ramp/embankment/approach on the east side and that will be about done when it’s time to go out on SR 15. Brown said they will have 60 days of traffic restriction allowed, but hopefully it won’t take that long, weather dependent. He said they did have some difficulties with locating and establishing the detours, but those should have been addressed.
Charlie Schueler, with engineering firm Lochmueller Group, reiterated that there’s going to be a lot of work on SR 15 and once all that work is completed, it will go back to what the configuration is now. “So on the east side of the road — if you’re heading north —- on the east side there will be the lane to get over to turn right onto 1300N; and if you’re heading south, there will be a leftturn lane to turn left onto 1300N Continued on page 2
WACF Lake Celebration and Breakfast July 29 Join the Wawasee Area Conservancy Foundation for its annual Lake Celebration and Breakfast at 9 a.m. Saturday, July 29. This year’s event will take place at the WACF Between-The-Lakes, across from The Channel Marker, East Pickwick Drive, Syracuse. The morning event will include
a breakfast donated by The Channel Marker. During the annual lake celebration participate in the dedication of the Buletty Pavilion and the Hayden/Quinn Log Cabin, along with updates on accomplishments and the presentation of the annual Cattail Award.
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