Lafayette moves forward on Park East Boulevard expansion
LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Lafayette’s Redevelopment Commission proposed a construction plan to expand Park East Boulevard from McCarty Lane to Haggerty Lane and an extension of St. Francis Way to Park East Boulevard.
The expansion of Park East Boulevard has been part of the city’s long-term transportation plan for a while, but it wasn’t until recently that the decision to expand the road received support from local leaders.
“It will help with (traffic) congestion in the area," Lafayette Economic Development Director Dennis Carson said. "It’ll add another ring to that area of Lafayette. You got Creasy Lane, Veteran Memorial Parkway and then we’ll have this too.
“It will also help with the land that’s out there to the east for industrial development.”
St. Francis Way will be extended to connect to the Park East Boulevard extension with a roundabout.
The plan calls for the the city to construct an approximately mile-long, four-lane road with full-depth asphalt pavement, storm sewers and structures, mainline culverts, drainage pond, extension or pilot channel, water main, and sanitary sewer lines. It also includes curbs and gutters, sidewalks, multi-use trail, raised center median, pedestrian hybrid beacons, street and trail lighting, landscaping, irrigation, signage and pavement markings. That's in addition to any other miscellaneous work pertaining to the project work area, according to the proposal.
The site road extension runs north and south between McCarty and Haggerty lanes, and sits east of Franciscan Health Lafayette East Hospital. The land affected by the proposed plan has been donated to the city by the property owner, Carson explained.
The project is currently in the earlier phases of development. The city is expected to receive bids on this project at its next redevelopment meeting.
Carson expects the construction of this project to last at least two years and is hoping to start it in the spring of 2024.
This article originally appeared on Lafayette Journal & Courier: Lafayette moves forward on Park East Boulevard expansion
