Major Moves Ribbon Cutting Ceremony At 1 P.M.
NEW PALESTINE, Ind.-Main Street is open for business!
U.S. Highway 52 through New Palestine will reopen months ahead of schedule next Wednesday, August 26-after completely closing to traffic on March 30 for major reconstruction. A formal ribbon cutting ceremony at 1 p.m. will feature the New Palestine Marching Dragons, government leaders, construction officials and a fire truck-led caravan of celebratory motorists traveling through the construction zone west to east.
The $3 million Major Moves project intruded on daily life in this southwestern Hancock County community as construction crews completely removed the roadbed, replaced sewer lines and rebuilt Main Street from Gem Road to the west bridge approach of Sugar Creek, a distance of .645 miles with an added center turn lane to improve traffic flow. Improvements include ADA-complaint sidewalks with curbs and gutters, traffic signals, signage, retaining walls and landscaping.
This kind of work takes time. The contract completion date is May 10, 2010.
But local businesses, residents and town leaders worked closely with the Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) and personnel from Dave O'Mara, the state's prime contractor, to accelerate the roadway's reopening.
Traffic will return to an intermediate level of asphalt (the surface will not be placed until all phases of construction have been completed). Tops of manholes will be elevated approximately 1½ inches above pavement level. Pavement markings will be temporary.
As ancillary work continues, flaggers will-at times-direct motorists around construction areas. Some walls remain to be built. Landscaping must be done. And three structures have yet to be removed. The contractor is hopeful much of the remaining work can be completed before the end of October.
The ceremony will be staged on U.S. 52 just east of Gem Road. There will be an area for observers to gather between the fire trucks and the ribbon. The Marching Dragons will perform under the guidance of band director Shawn Humphreys by permission of high school principal Kyle Kirby. State senator Beverly Gard will join New Palestine Town Council president Larry Jonas at Wednesday's ribbon cutting ceremony. INDOT will be represented by area engineer Roland Fegan and Deputy Commissioner Brandye Hendrickson. Jeff Fuller will comment for Dave O'Mara Contractor.
