By Ann Marie Shambaugh
Zionsville has been awarded a $1 million grant from the Indiana Dept. of Transportation for several road projects as part of the Community Crossings Matching Grant program. The town is one of only 23 municipalities to receive $1 million, the maximum amount rewarded.
The town will use the grant for four projects:
- A new compact urban roundabout at Mulberry Street and Ford Road, with a deceleration/stacking lane for southbound drivers entering Zionsville Middle School ($510,000)
- Reconstruction of Village Walk Drive in the Village Walk subdivision ($770,252)
- Rehabilitation of the former Ind. 334 corridor – Oak Street, First Street and Sycamore Street – from Brendon Way to Elm Street ($456,612)
- Rehabilitation of C.R. 975 E. and Pleasantview Road from Ford Road north to near the Smith Meadows/Cedar Bend subdivisions ($292,040)
Town officials submitted 11 projects for consideration to the state in July.
“One of my priorities is to take advantage of all funding opportunities available to the town,” Zionsville Mayor Tim Haak stated in a press release. “The Community Crossings grant is an exemplary program enabling the state and INDOT to quickly and responsibly get public money to local communities.”
The projects selected in Zionsville are estimated to cost approximately $2.03 million, and grant recipients must match funds received.
“This grant provides an opportunity to deliver projects to our citizens much earlier – and in some cases in a greater scope – than previously considered,” stated Lance Lantz, Zionsville superintendent of street and stormwater services, in a press release. “Beyond the initial infusion of capital, I look forward to the ripple effect it creates, freeing up funds for other projects that have been waiting in the wings.”
The C.R. 975 E. and Pleasantview Road rehabilitation is expected to be complete this year, with the other three projects being designed next year.
INDOT announced the awards Aug. 22, with 102 municipalities receiving $47 million total. Projects were selected based on need, traffic volume, local support and other factors.
