May 5, 2016 - For the third year in a row, the City of Fort Wayne will see record investments in street, sidewalk, ADA ramp and trail upgrades. At an afternoon news conference in the Eagle Lake neighborhood, Mayor Tom Henry announced the City of Fort Wayne’s aggressive commitment to neighborhood improvements that will see nearly 500 projects completed in 2016.
More than $25 million will go to neighborhood infrastructure improvements in 2016. In the Eagle Lake addition, where residents joined Mayor Henry to celebrate the projects, more than $670,000 is being invested to repair concrete streets, sidewalks, curbs and add new ADA ramps.
In the past three years, Mayor Henry has committed more than $75 million in neighborhood Public Works enhancements.
“Investing in our neighborhoods is critical to the current and future success of our City,” said Mayor Henry. “We must have strong and vibrant neighborhoods with infrastructure that works and is attractive for residents and businesses. One of the reasons why we’re experiencing growth and momentum in our community is because of our ongoing commitment to making a positive difference in all of our neighborhoods.”
The road, street and trail construction projects will help to support good-paying construction jobs, strengthen neighborhoods and ensure Fort Wayne is ready to compete for new jobs and business investment.
City Utilities will continue its commitment to replace nine miles of water main each year, build new storm pipes to reduce basement backups and street flooding, and construct new sanitary pipes coupled with plant improvements to increase capacity and protect our rivers.
City Utilities will invest more than $30 million in neighborhood upgrades this year. Utility enhancements will improve the delivery of water, reduce sewer back-ups and reduce the number of combined overflows into our rivers.
Between Public Works and City Utilities, 2016 will see $55 million invested in our neighborhoods. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, every $1 million invested in infrastructure construction supports or creates an average of 24 jobs. Using that formul,a the combined investment from Public Works and City Utilities will support 1,320 jobs with the work being done in Fort Wayne neighborhoods.
Mayor Henry’s proposed transportation improvements include:
9 Miles of Concrete Street Repair
54 Miles of Resurfacing
47,000 Feet of Sidewalk Repair
400 New ADA Ramps
Besides the large number of neighborhood projects, motorists will notice paving improvements on major roads including: Airport Expressway, Hobson Road, McKinnie Avenue, North Clinton, Maysville Road, Diebold Road, and Spy Run Extended.
Additionally, the safety improvement to realign and straighten Maumee Avenue near Indiana Tech will be completed this year and a significant addition to our trail network on Illinois Road is scheduled.
The McKinnie Avenue project will add a trail between South Anthony Boulevard and Hessen Cassel Road.
2016_Neighborhood_Projects.pdf