Published: April 13, 2009 11:21 pm      

County devotes $3 million to paving

Dixon Road getting more improvements.

Federal stimulus funds for Howard County will provide $3 million toward the cost of the Dixon Road project.

That leaves money open for other projects, including additional road paving this year.

Ted Cain, superintendent of the Howard County Highway Department, said the money will be used for the paving of county roads in 24 locations.

A condition of the federal funding is the road can’t have been paved in five years.

Cain said the improvements to Dixon Road from Sycamore Street to North Judson Road are being prepared in case funds become available for the project.

Work on the Dixon Road project could begin next year. The projected cost is $7.4 million, which includes $1.5 million in local funds.

Cain said the county has $275,000 set aside for the widening of Dixon Road and if the project receives federal funding, the county will shift funds from other projects.

Another project awaiting federal funding is the widening of traffic lanes on Boulevard from Goyer Road to the new U.S. 31 freeway. Cain said the road will have to be brought to federal standards.

The planned improvement to Boulevard is to widen the road to 48 feet.

Cain said the county will have to purchase right of way to widen the road to the new freeway interchange.

The county has hired the Indianapolis engineering firm of Butler, Fairman & Seufert for the appraisal, review and cost of the property along Boulevard.