Northeast Indiana regional partnership ranks potential highway projects

Improvements to U.S. 6 in Noble and DeKalb counties and U.S. 33 in Noble County rank among the top three priorities on the list.

The plan also calls for new interchanges connecting S.R. 5 and S.R. 327 to the Indiana Toll Road in LaGrange and Steuben counties, respectively.

The Northeast Indiana Regional Partnership released the list Monday and said regional leaders will use the list to lobby for state funding.

The list includes a total of 13 projects developed by the region’s 10 local economic development organizations.

“Knowing where our transportation infrastructure needs stand today gives us a common voice for advocating for resources at the state level to support those projects that have the greatest economic impact on northeast Indiana,” said David Koenig, executive director of the Steuben County Economic Development Corp., in a news release about the list. “Recognizing that these projects can have a significant impact on the growth of the entire region is one example of how the region is invested in our collective success.”

The list divides projects into three tiers, with Tier One projects as the top priorities.

The highest-ranked project on the list calls for creating a controlled-access freeway on U.S. 30 through Allen and Whitley counties.

Proposed projects in the four-county area on the list are:

Tier One

• U.S. 6 from S.R. 19 at Nappanee to Interstate 69 — The report says U.S. 6 is one of a few highways in Indiana designated as a heavy highway that can carry loads up to 134,000 pounds. The highway is a key route for steel shipments between the Chicago-Gary area and Steel Dynamics Inc. in Butler.

• U.S. 33 from Elkhart to Indiana-Ohio line — The report cites a need for a safe, improved route from the northwest corner of the region to the southeast. U.S. 33 connects South Bend to Fort Wayne and is a connecting highway for the recreational vehicle industry in LaGrange and Elkhart counties. The highway is perceived to be unsafe due to lack of shoulders.

Tier Two

• S.R. 5 from the Indiana Toll Road to U.S. 6 — The project would include a new toll road interchange for S.R. 5 and would improve access for the recreational vehicle industry in Topeka and the tourism industry in Shipshewana.

• S.R. 8 from S.R. 3 to DeKalb County Road 15 — The report says this project “is the smallest, least expensive project,” could be “readily developed” and “have a significant impact on business and industry in the region.” It would improve the corridor from Avilla through Garrett to Interstate 69 at Auburn at an estimated cost is $32.5 million for 6.5 miles. “It also has the second-highest return on investment” of the 13 projects, the report says.

• S.R. 327 from the Indiana Toll Road to both the Michigan line and S.R. 120. The report says this would break up the longest stretch along the toll road without an interchange, currently 23 miles from Howe to Fremont. “While the project doesn’t have strong proximity to existing business, the big-picture opportunity exists for future site development along this significant transportation corridor,” the report says. Trine University engineering students have done a preliminary study.

• S.R. 9, U.S. 20 and S.R. 3 from the Michigan line to Kendallville — The report mentions the advantages of increasing the weight limit on these roads to 134,000 pounds. That would allow freight from Michigan to connect to U.S. 6, which already allows up to 134,000 pounds.

Tier Three

• S.R. 205 and DeKalb County Road 56 to Interstate 69 — This route would connect U.S. 30 in Columbia City to Interstate 69 near Auburn while avoiding Fort Wayne traffic.