February 5, 2021 - The City of Fort Wayne and INDOT held a virtual joint public meeting yesterday to provide an overview of the Ludwig Road Relocation & Coldwater Road Interchange projects. Construction is expected to begin on the projects early in 2022. A recorded version of yesterday’s meeting may be viewed at: Facebook.com/CityofFortWayne and www.in.gov/indot/2703.htm.

During the meeting, a team from the City of Fort Wayne and INDOT presented the purpose and need for the projects, overview of the features, maintenance of traffic, the tentative timeline and the coordination of projects between the City and INDOT. 

This Coldwater-Ludwig interchange was built over 40 years ago and designed for the purpose of retaining the cemetery. Due to the large amount of cross traffic coming from the I-69 ramp and the median access road that’s in between the northbound and southbound lanes of Coldwater Rd., there have been over 80 accidents and 25 injuries in the last 5 years, making it imperative to relocate the interchange.

Features of the relocation project will include a roundabout at Ludwig Road and Oakbrook Parkway with a newly constructed street extending north from the roundabout and then turning to the east to connect to Coldwater Road. Along the extension of Oakbrook Parkway, a new entrance and exit to Northrop High School will be constructed and a new traffic signal will be installed at Coldwater Road.  Other features will include a future trail connection to the Pufferbelly Trail, a stormwater detention pond and green infrastructure.

The purpose of INDOT’s project is to address deteriorated pavement and bridge conditions located within the project limits, provide adequate vertical bridge clearance, and accommodate Ludwig Road alignment modifications being completed by the City of Fort Wayne. Proposed improvements include a Hot Mix Asphalt overlay from Washington Center Road to the new intersection of Oakbrook Parkway, realigning the off-ramp from SB I-69 to NB Coldwater Road, replacing the bridge that carries NB Coldwater Road over the SB I-69 to SB Coldwater Road ramp, and placing rigid concrete overlay and pier patching on both bridges carrying Coldwater Road over I-69.

Coldwater Road will be open to traffic with two lanes maintained in each direction throughout construction. SB I-69 ramps to NB & SB Coldwater Road will be closed during certain phases of construction. The inside and outside lanes on I-69 will be closed intermittently.