City reaches deal on taking over Business 50

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          The crumbling and pot-holed filled route of old U.S. 50 will get rebuilt after the City of Washington agreed to take over ownership of the old highway at Monday’s City Council meeting.  The Council voted 6-1 for the deal, with only Councilman Doug Campton opposing the deal.  

         Mayor Joe Wellman and City officials have been in negotiations with INDOT for over three years to get the State to rebuild the deteriorating roadbed.   Wellman noted that his three predecessors had attempted to get INDOT funding to repair the road.   The Mayor said this is the best deal Washington can get from the State.   The agreement calls for Washington to rebuild the road, with the State furnishing 87% of the funding, or just over $15 million.  Washington’s share of the road rebuild will be just more than $2 million.   The long-term project will be divided into three phases: from the east side of the city to State Street, from State Street to S.E. 3rd, and from SE. 3rd to the west side of the city.   The City of Washington will also take advantage of the road project to replace the 80 year old water and sewer lines under the roadbed.    

       The Mayor, noting six major water breaks, said the $8 million utility project would have to be done in the near future, even if the road deal had not occurred.    Noting that he will be out of office when the project is completed, the Mayor said it is important to Washington’s future. 

 

 

   The Mayor said work on the project will begin on the two outer ends.  It will be a four year project with most of the work being done in 2022 and 2023.   

 

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