By BOB SHRALUKA
WZBD.com
The construction of a roundabout – or traffic circle, if you prefer – in Decatur is still on schedule to begin Monday, June 2, city Operations Manager Jeremy Gilbert told city council at its latest meeting.
The closing of the Five Points intersection, will, of course, bring about traffic problems, for which city officials and police leaders have been preparing.
No streets will be closed due to the construction, but parking will be banned along the entire length of First St., and on Rugg St.
First St. is expected to become a major artery with the closing of the Five Points area.
The bans – which will only be temporary, officials stressed – will go into effect when the construction work begins.
“I think this is the best way to go,” Police Chief Kevin Gerber told council.
“We’ve been taking a look at this for several months and we think this is the right thing to do,” Gilbert said.
Five streets connect to the intersection.
Sewer work will be done at the start, then after 2-3 weeks, the project will turn to concrete work. If all goes as projected, the project should be completed, at the latest, by the end of September, he said.
The Indiana Department Transportation (INDOT) is in charge of the project. The contract for the work was awarded by INDOT to E&B Paving, a Muncie firm which had the low bid of $2,493,109. Decatur’s match is 20% of the final cost.
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