Merrillville planners sign off on Madison Street widening

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Updated: March 9, 2012 8:16AM

MERRILLVILLE — The Plan Commission on Tuesday expressed its approval of a proposed expansion of the Merrillville Road tax increment financing district to allow almost $6 million in road improvements, including the widening of Madison Street from 73rd Avenue to 80th Place.

“This makes total sense,” said commission member Brian Dering, who noted that a traffic study done eight years ago found about 8,000 cars a day traveled Madison.

“I assume there are about 10,000 cars a day using Madison Street now,” Dering said.

Under the proposed plan, which was recently approved by the Redevelopment Commission, the Madison widening project would take up the bulk of the money, at an estimated $4.75 million. Town administrator Howard Fink said he assumes the project would include widening the road to four lanes with a turn lane.

Also, Grant Street would be repaved from U.S. 30 to 86th Avenue at an estimated cost of $150,000, 85th Avenue would be repaved from Fillmore Street to Buchanan Street at a cost of $60,000 and Merrillville Road would be repaved from 84th Drive to 93rd Avenue at an estimated cost of $275,000.

“This is a good plan, a good expansion. It provides flexibility in terms of the projects we can do,” Fink said.