Western Avenue construction frustrates drivers

Project not set to finish until mid-October

July 20, 2011|By Kelli Stopczynski (kstopczynski@wsbt.com), Click here to become a fan of Kelli on Facebook | By Kelli Stopczynski (kstopczynski@wsbt.com), Click here to become a fan of Kelli on Facebook

SOUTH BEND – A main artery connecting the west side of South Bend to downtown has been closed for more than a week, and drivers who use Western Avenue every day say they are frustrated. The construction has closed Western for several blocks, leaving drivers to either follow the marked detours or navigate their own way around it all.

For Coca-Cola delivery driver Dave Price, the project means his delivery schedule takes much longer than it should.

“The cab of my truck is running well over 100 degrees,” he said. “I’ve got probably four [deliveries] over here but then I’ve got a bunch [of deliveries] on the other side of the street.”

His only option is to go around, which means lots of extra driving time. And Price isn’t alone.

“It’s hard,” said Lonnie Misenheimer of the difficulties of navigating his way around the closed stretch of Western. “I’m just now figuring it out.

“I was trying to catch the bus and the buses don't come down here [because of the construction],” said Mary Willis as she walked to the grocery store. “So I walked up there and then the sidewalks were out. So I had to walk back. It feels like it's 150 degrees out.”

The road is actually closed for two different projects. One is a re-paving project near the intersection of Western Avenue and Chapin Street. The other is a few blocks away where Western intersects Walnut.

Contractors told WSBT the reason for the Walnut Street viaduct construction is to correct two problems: first, large steel posts used to create blind spots for drivers making right or left turns onto either street a hazardous situation. The second is to help with the flooding that used to happen in that area after a heavy rainfall.

While they’re out there, crews are also installing new sewer lines as part of the city's 10-year plan to update the storm drainage system.

The project foreman for the part of the project at Western and Chapin told WSBT they hope to have that intersection open by late next week, weather permitting.

As for the work near the viaduct at Western and Walnut, contractors there said they’re not sure when that section of the road will re-open but the project is scheduled to be finished by mid-October.

This week’s heat wave isn’t helping the workers. A foreman said the high heat and humidity values definitely affect productivity – workers move a bit more slowly and need to take more breaks to stay hydrated and rested – but he also said that isn’t delaying the project’s schedule.

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