Fort Wayne officials announced Wednesday a record-breaking $48.9 million in neighborhood infrastructure projects the city will see this year.
Acting Mayor Karl Bandemer and Public Works division leaders made the announcement on the fourth floor of Citizens Square.
Officials highlighted the Harvester Neighborhood Street Reconstruction Project, which will begin this year and be completed in 2025.
The project will include completely reconstructing Edsall Avenue between Pontiac and Reynolds streets. Edsall will be reconstructed with curb and gutter, asphalt pavement, sidewalks on both sides of the street, some storm sewer improvements and decorative street lights.
The existing street is a mix of asphalt and chip and seal. It is also in poor condition with no continuous sidewalk and lighting on wood poles, officials said.
The $48.9 million includes $37.5 million for streets, roads and bridges, $9.3 million for sidewalks and alleys and $2.1 million for trails.
Bandemer said the proactive plan for this year sends “a strong message that we care about and listen to neighborhoods.”
“To be able to invest nearly $50 million is a win for our community. Our Public Works division is committed to meeting the transportation needs that ultimately help enhance economic development opportunities, improve our quality of life, and assist in our collective efforts to be a point of destination to live, work, and play,” he said in a statement.
Neighborhood infrastructure work set for this year includes:
• $400,000 in sidewalk repairs (using 50% cost share)
• $1.5 million in miscellaneous concrete repairs, including in-house work
• $250,000 for curb repairs
• $400,000 for trip hazard elimination and leveling
• $500,000 for Americans with Disabilities Act-compliant curb ramp packages
• $300,000 for guardrail and attenuator repairs
• Two major arterial improvement projects
• 10 neighborhood street rehabilitation projects
• 28 miles of contracted asphalt resurfacing (including several multilane arterials)
• 9 miles of asphalt in-house resurfacing
• Two bridge rehab/replacement projects
• A brick street repair project
• 17 concrete alley replacements
• Four new sidewalk construction projects
• Six new trail projects
• 10 traffic projects
• 13 street lighting projects
• 10 miles of conversions from chip and seal to asphalt
• 41 projects in study, design, permitting or land acquisition stage.
Public Works will also bid a fifth resurfacing package using funds from the American Rescue Plan Act in the qualified census tract areas.
A few projects have been carried over to this year from 2023, including two for major arterial rehabilitation, two for trails and three for neighborhood rehabilitation and reconstruction.
The city administration and most City Council members worked together in 2017 to provide more funding for alley work and sidewalks in neighborhoods, officials said. Those efforts have continued.
Since 2014, officials said the city has invested more than $340 million in neighborhood infrastructure enhancements.
