HUNTERTOWN — Huntertown is one of the fastest growing areas in Allen County and the surrounding area. Over the next few years several major Indiana Department Of Transportation road widening, and trail improvement projects planned for the Huntertown area. The benefit to Huntertown residents includes increased safety and easier travel.

“If we continue to grow, we have to find safe and convenient passageways for our residents to get from place to place,” Ryan Schwab, Huntertown clerk/treasurer, said.

Woods Road widening project

Ongoing is the Woods Road widening project, which runs from Old State Road 3 to just west of the Town Square Road development, at the edge of the corporate limits.

In conjunction with the INDOT road widening project, water main and sanitary sewer line connections are being installed. Further, a sidewalk and ornamental street lighting are being installed on the north side of the road and connect into the Huntertown Family Park.

“Sidewalks and lighting are needed due to safety concerns,” Brandon Seifert, Huntertown town council president, said.

The total award for the project was just under $1.2 million. Additionally, the water project was just under $250,000 and was separate from the road widening project.

A Community Crossings grant from INDOT is funding 75% of the project based on population, Beth Shellman, Huntertown, town clerk said. “Our share of the cost of the project is a little over $290,000,” she said.

Because the Woods Road widening project has the water main and sewer line connection, the use of other funding sources is required.

“We are using water operating money and sewer operating money to pay from some of the utility upgrades that are going on with the project,” Schwab said.

Woods Road closed in June for the project but maintained access to residences. The contractor, Pulver Asphalt expects the project to be completed in early August. Woods Road is expected to reopen in time for the Huntertown Heritage Days Festival Aug. 11-13.

Carroll Road widening project

Other upcoming road projects include The Carroll Road widening project which is just getting underway. An onsite pre-construction coordination meeting is set for July 5. The project is divided into two major Carroll Road east and west segments.

E&B Paving was awarded the project at a cost of over $4.17 million. Huntertown is paying nearly $1.06 million for its share of the project.

“We have a variety of sources we can pull funding from for roads. The Carroll Road East and West projects are all funded through CEDIT funds,” Schwab said.

Carroll Road West widening project breakdown (west of State Road 3)

The Carroll Road West widening runs from just east of Bethel Road to Millstone Drive and the Allen County Fairgrounds.

Included in the project is an 8-foot trail on both sides of Carroll Road, where the existing sidewalks end just east of Bethel Road to Millstone Drive. The trail is expected to connect with the fairgrounds on the north side.

Construction on the project is set to begin this summer, Shellman said.

Carroll Road East widening project breakdown (east of State Road 3)

Similarly, the Carroll Road East project is expected to begin approximately 800 feet west of the State Road 3 intersection and extend to approximately 450 feet west of the Shearwater Run and the Coral Springs Drive intersection.

Besides widening the road, a 10-foot curb faced trail on the north side of Carroll Road and a sidewalk on the south side is planned for this section of the project, Shellman said.

Utilities are expected to be relocated this year with construction expected to begin in 2024, she said.

Further, the Carroll Road East project will connect to an existing trail on Pathway Community Church property upon completion of a planned roundabout at the Carroll Road, Shearwater Run and Coral Springs Drive intersection.

Carroll Road Roundabout

The planned roundabout at Shearwater Run and Coral Springs Drive is currently estimated to cost approximately $1,800,000. A utility coordination meeting involving all the utilities affected by the installation of the roundabout was held recently.

“The project is in the engineering and design development phase. This is the phase when we start designing the project and coordinating with the utilities. We look at the right-of-way to determine if we need more. We also get the design laid out and approved,” Shellman said.

Currently, Huntertown’s expected 20% portion of the roundabout project is estimated to be approximately $360,000. Bids are expected to be awarded in the fall of 2025.

“We have funding from our motor vehicle highway fund and our local road and street fund that comes from the state. Those are all funding sources that we can use to pay for these projects. We take each on a case-by-case basis depending on what the projects cost and what funding is available,” Schwab said.

Gump Road Pedestrian Bridge

An elevated pedestrian bridge designed to go over Gump Road is in the very early planning stages. Current estimates put the cost at approximately over $12.31 million.

“The town’s 20% portion is expected to be approximately $2.462,500. We have some time to figure out exactly where funding for that project will come from,” Schwab said.

Engineering for the pedestrian bridge is slated for 2027. Bids are set to be awarded in 2030 and construction is tentatively expected to begin in 2031, Shellman said.