Widening Of Indian Trail Delayed Until Later In Year

The Indian Trail widening project, already delayed once this year, has been put off again.

“We are still fighting furiously to get this thing out and get some construction done this fall,” said Dick Raymond, senior design engineer for the city’s construction services.

The first phase of work will be from Shawnee north to Ridgecrest. Instead of being widened to four lanes as originally planned, only a center turn lane will be added.

“With growth management now coming into play, widening the total roadway section north of Shawnee wasn’t required,” said Raymond.

Construction on the $2.8 million project was put off while the city worked out access problems with developers on both sides of the road.

“We still haven’t totally resolved the access issue with some of the developers south of Shawnee,” he said.

Work on the stretch from Shawnee south to Kathleen is now expected to start next spring.

To make life a little easier for commuters when the project starts next year, engineers plan to keep an asphalt lane open for traffic.

“There is a high level of commute traffic, and we don’t want long delays or cars driving over gravel,” said Raymond.

In the meantime, Pacific Park residents will have to continue taking a detour to reach Indian Trail Road - or their homes - through mid-July.

Two new streets, Fotheringham and Parkway Drive, along with sewer lines and water mains are being laid for future development.

A church, school and housing development are planned on the north side of Pacific Park Drive.

On the south side, a 25-unit planned development is proposed.

, DataTimes