HEBRON | When it comes to Major Moves, it doesn't get much more major than the Main Street renovation project through downtown Hebron.
Planned and discussed for what seems like decades but has actually been only about 15 years, the project is set to begin construction this spring after the Indiana Department of Transportation awarded a contract to Walsh & Kelly Inc., of Griffith, for almost $10 million.
The project runs the length of Ind. 2 through the town and involves replacing pavement, installing new traffic signals, new concrete sidewalks on both sides of the road, a new storm sewer and new turn lanes. The project is expected to take two years to complete, wrapping up in spring 2009.
Funding is from the $3.8 billion in Major Moves money the state received from the lease of the Indiana Toll Road last year.
Despite the announcement by INDOT, the long wait and frequent delays in getting the project off the drawing board caused Council President Don Ensign to say, "I want to see the bulldozers."
"I'm very happy it's going to start," Ensign added. "It's something we had hoped could get started much earlier, but good things come to those who wait, I guess."
He said the council hopes to discuss how it will be done with the contractor and how traffic will be routed along the only route through downtown before construction begins.
"We started a newsletter on the town Web site, and we hope to have updates constantly so people will know what's taking place and what routes they need to take," Ensign said.
Awarding the contract also means the town's Beautification Committee can resume planning for amenities that will accompany the state's work. The state will install the wiring and the bases for streetlights, but the town has to provide the lights. The committee also is looking at benches and other features similar to what Valparaiso is doing in its downtown, Ensign said.
INDOT tore down the buildings at the northeast corner of Main and Sigler Street to provide a turn lane for trucks and expedite traffic flow. The remaining property will be made into a parking lot as part of the INDOT work. Ensign said the town wants to block off a nearby alley and turn it into a walkway with tables and seats to allow for outdoor dining.
The committee wants to create a gateway garden at one corner with a fountain and a clock tower. The town's redevelopment commission plans to put up landscaped welcome signs at the other entrances to the town.
"Finances will be the big thing," Ensign said of the town's beautification work. "We were hoping to apply for a grant, but the way the grants have changed the last few years it doesn't look like we're going to qualify now."
With a couple of big subdivisions planned for construction this summer, Ensign said residents will be seeing a lot of bulldozers.
"We hope everybody will be patient when construction starts because, when it's finished, it will be beautiful," he said.
