So. Ind. sees road re-routing plans

WASHINGTON, IND. (WTHI) - A southern Indiana community took a first look at plans to re-route a major roadway.

State transportation officials unveiled a $2.7 million change in the route of Business 50 on the east side of Washington.

The project is going to be about more than re-routing traffic.

The state has finished work on I-69 on Washington's east side.

The interstate may be substantially done, but that doesn't mean the road construction is over.

"We're not finished yet," said Washington Mayor Joe Wellman.  "INDOT is, the Indiana Department of Transportation is looking at a new intersection of Business 50 and the By-Pass and that's going to be the next construction that people see."

Preliminary plans unveiled on Thursday call for moving the city's first exit about 300 yards to the west, upgrading the by-pass intersection by adding a stop light and a lot more.

"It's going to be more than just a road," said Wellman.  "One of the things that when I was involved in some of the early discussions with INDOT: we want it to be nice.  We want it to have sidewalks.  We want to have a nice berm and curb, some grassy areas so it will be a real nice entry to the city."

Officials say the project is going to do more than re-route traffic.  It's going to give the community a new gateway.

It's also going to require drivers to learn something new.

"There will be a roundabout built that will be designed to handle everything from automobiles to tractors to busses--even semi traffic," said Wellman.

A project that is expected to be the first in a series of efforts to update and improve the city's east side in hopes of making it more attractive to visitors and potential employers.

The project is now in the public comment phase.

Work is scheduled to begin one year from now with the project finished before 2015.