MILFORD — A new overpass is being proposed for Milford. While the proposed project is still in the preliminary planning stages, county officials said construction could start in two years.
Ron Robinson, Kosciusko County administrator, received approval to have USI Consulting, Indianapolis, begin preliminary work done on extending CR 1300N, from Old SR 15 and up and over, via an overpass, the railroad tracks to SR 15, Milford.
Commissioners approved the work to be done at their Tuesday, April 5, meeting. The project is still in the early preliminary stages.
First, an environmental study needs to be done. Due to the wetlands in the area, the study is necessary, said Robinson.
Eventually, right of way may need to be purchased. Homeowners in the affected area will be contacted at a later date, once the environmental study is conducted.
Construction is not expected to begin for another two years. The county will apply for federal funds from the Indiana Department of Transportation to pay for the project. There is no cost estimate as of yet, said Robinson. Other funding sources will be sought as well.
Also, traffic and truck counts will need to be conducted by the Michiana Area Council Of Governments.
There are several reasons the project is necessary, said Robinson. First, truck traffic is increasing. During fall harvest, there are approximately 300 trucks each day using CR 1300N, he noted, or more.
“There can be up to 350 trucks a day,” said Robinson. “So, it is more trucks.”
Grain trucks are coming and going to and from TruHorizons in Milford and also trucks from Poly-Wood in Syracuse are mainly the reasons for the increase, said Robinson.
“Poly-Wood has 32 to 50 trucks a day,” he said. “It will continue to increase.”
The other reason is safety precautions. Heavy train traffic going through Milford can be as high as 20 to 30 trains a day.
“There’s a lot of stops,” said Scott Tilden, county highway superintendent, because of vehicles stopping for the trains.
Various emergency vehicles trying to get across the railroad tracks, either north and south or east and west, can be delayed. This can be the fire department and the ambulances.
Also, school buses carrying children are affected. Children can be late to school or coming home in the afternoon, due to heavy train traffic, noted Robinson.