U.S. Senator Joe Donnelly joined Marshall County Commissioners, past and present, INDOT leaders and a dozen U.S. veterans to celebrate and officially open the new Veteran’s Parkway and 7th Road interchange just off the news U.S. 31 freeway.
President of the Marshall County Commissioners, Kevin Overmyer said, “It’s been a long process and a labor of love.” He said it took more than 12 years from beginning to end.
At a cost of more than $5.5 million dollars, Marshall County was fortunate the county was responsible for 20% of the cost and Overmyer said, “That’s where Senator Donnelly came in and helped us out when he was a congressman in the 2nd district. We got an appropriation from the Federal Highway for $500,000 which helped us get to our 20% match we had to have for INDOT to even get this project started so that was a big help.”
Overmyer spoke of the need to have an additional access across the new road to allow emergency traffic an easier and quicker way to the other side of the county. He closed by saying, “What you see here is what happens when everyone works together.”
Rick Powers, Northwest District Deputy Commissioner said, “Marshall County’s Veteran’s Parkway and INDOT’s new interchange off U.S. 31 are a great example of the partnership between INDOT and the local communities which our state highways connect; local projects and state projects working together to create better and more efficient ways for the folks of Indiana to get to work, school, and home.”
The new U.S. 31 is 20 miles of divided, four-lane highway between the U.S. 20 Bypass in South Bend and U.S. 30 near Plymouth. In between, traffic is only able to access the new freeway through entrance and exit ramps at four interchanges: Kern Road in South Bend, State Road 4 in Lakeville, U.S. 6 in LaPaz and now 7th Road/Veteran’s Parkway in Plymouth.
The U.S. 31 projects near South Bend, Kokomo and Indianapolis are a key part of the Major Moves construction program supported by the 2006 lease of the Indiana Toll Road. They are intended to reduce congestion, improve safety and provide continuity of commerce and regional travel for a U.S. highway that stretches from Michigan to Alabama.
When the final 13 miles on U.S. 31 north of Indianapolis open to traffic, a total of 32 traffic signals will have been removed from U.S. 31 between Indianapolis and South Bend, increasing safety and saving a half hour of travel time.
Stay up to date on the new U.S. 31 via INDOT Northwest District’s social media channels atFacebook.com/INDOTNorthwest or Twitter: @INDOTNorthwest.
