By BOB SHRALUKA
WZBD.com
A project which has been on again and off again for years, the work to install a roundabout (or traffic circle) at the Five Points intersection in Decatur got underway today.
The construction area is entirely blocked and detour signs point to alternate routes.
The project is expected to take up to 120 days to complete.
Although they are open, no parking is permitted along the entire length of First St., and on Rugg St. First St. is expected to become a major artery.
The detour is on Mercer to Rugg to First St. and and Mercer to Grant St. to Line St., depending on if a driver needs to access the east side of the city, center or west side, according to city Operations Manager Jeremy Gilbert.
Temporary speed bumps are in place on First St. in the area of the Madison Street Plaza and also the site of the former jail. They have been put in place to help slow traffic in those areas due to pedestrian foot traffic, Gilbert added.
Sewer work will be done at the start, then, after 2-3 weeks, the project will turn to concrete work.
The Indiana Department Transportation (INDOT) is in charge of the project. The contract for the effort 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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