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(erielack) Work to repair EL roadbed 35 years later... for bikes.

CROWN POINT, Indiana — Residents frustrated with the flooding conditions on the city’s portion of the Erie Lackawanna Trail will soon find those issues resolved.
Wednesday Mayor David Uran announced at the Board of Public Works and Safety meeting the city finally received approval from the Federal Highway Administration Tuesday for funding of the change order for the repairs.
“As you know the bike trail has been something of a concern to us,” Uran said.
Areas of the trail south of the Lake County Government Center have been prone to flooding since the trail was complete. Butler, Fairman & Seafert, the firm that engineered the project, earlier this year identified the problems and reengineered the trouble spots at no cost to the city.
The proposed change was submitted to the Federal Highway Administration so officials could tap the grant funding that built the trail to cover the repairs.
He said the city has received numerous calls from residents upset the problems with the trail had not been addressed. Parks Director Jenny Burgess said her department too has received calls.
Uran said some of those who complained were concerned the city was moving forward with other projects and ignoring the problems with the trail.
“We were waiting for this approval,” Uran said.
Without the approval the city would have lost the federal funding for the project and would have had to foot the bill itself.
Repairs are expected to cost about $50,000, said Tris Miles, director of engineering.
“As soon as practical we will have construction start,” Miles said.
About another $634,000 in federal funding not used in the first phase of the bike path project will go toward Phase II of the project which will include trail heads at Liberty Park and an extension of the trail there and at 93rd Avenue.
 
Todd ~

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