The City of Fort Wayne invested more than $20 million in local roads and sidewalks in 2014.
Orange cones, detours, traffic jams --- while construction projects may be a nuisance on our daily commutes, Fort Wayne Mayor Tom Henry says they’re good for the city’s economic growth and quality of life. He says this year saw an unprecedented amount of neighborhood improvements, including 50 miles of street paving.
Henry gathered community leaders in the Southwick neighborhood in Southeast Fort Wayne Monday, to tout the improvements there. $850,000 was invested in the neighborhood this year, which reconstructed more than a mile of sidewalk, and added 18 new sidewalk ramps.
That’s partially in response to The Americans with Disabilities Act, or ADA. Frank Suarez with City Utilities says Fort Wayne is also working with local disability organizations.
“And sat down with them and looked at our priorities of how we can get things up to compliance for ADA," says Suarez, "improving sidewalks as well, looking at areas where the most use is near government buildings, near schools.”
Throughout the City, more than 1,000 ADA ramps were installed in 2014.
The City has matched the investment for next year, budgeting $20 million for infrastructure improvements in 2015.