Roundabout eyed for 93rd Avenue, Chase Street intersection

CROWN POINT | An L-shaped intersection north of the Lake County Government Center could become circular.

Plans are in the works for a roundabout, or circular intersection, at the corner of 93rd Avenue and Chase Street, Mayor David Uran said.

Uran said a roundabout there would ease access to a bike trail that runs through Crown Point behind the government complex, and would improve safety at the intersection.

Lake County Commissioner Gerry Scheub, D-Crown Point, said Wednesday that Uran spoke with him about six months ago about improvements at the site.

"Where it squares off now, the mayor said he wanted to make that a curve, and he asked if I would be opposed," Scheub said. "I said I would have no problem with it because it would be a lot safer."

Uran said 80 percent of the project would be paid with federal highway funds.

Also planned for the 93rd Avenue-Chase Street intersection is one of two trail heads to be built along the Erie Lackawanna bike trail just west of the government center.

A second trail head is planned at the Summit Street entrance to the trail. Trail heads have parking spaces, shelters and rest areas.

Trail heads will be paid for using federal funds already in place after completion of the first phase of construction of the Crown Point section of the bike trail, Uran said.

The city's portion of the trail opened in late 2010, extending the Erie Lackawanna trail to Crown Point from its start at the Little Calumet River in Hammond.

A contract not to exceed $46,800 was awarded Wednesday by the Crown Point Board of Public Works and Safety to engineering firm Butler Fairman and Seufert for work on an environmental study and design of the trail heads.

The environmental study, required for use of federal funds on the project, is expected to get begin Monday, said Jake Dammarell, a spokesman for Butler Fairman and Seufert.