Construction of the second of a three-phase project to route some traffic off of Tipton Street around the south side of Seymour has started to wind down.
During Thursday’s board of public works and safety meeting, city Engineer Bernie Hauersperger gave an update on Phase 1 of the Burkart South Bypass.
That phase, which is being constructed by Milestone Contractors at a cost of $17.23 million, includes a railroad overpass, which also will give motorists a way to avoid delays created by trains passing through city on the CSX rail.
“A lot of paving has now been complete,” Hauersperger said. “There is a lot of grading that will need to wait until the weather turns a little cooler to get some more sod down. Otherwise, I think it will die immediately.”
He also said a lot of cleanup already has started.
“It should be a huge benefit to the city because motorists can cross the railroad tracks any time they want to,” Hauersperger said. “That’s coming fast.”
Besides the overpass, the first phase includes 2.3 miles of new road, taking Burkart Boulevard south through farm ground over the Louisville and Indiana Railroad near Silgan Plastics and connecting it to South O’Brien Street at a new roundabout.
Also included in the project is a 12-foot-wide multipurpose trail along the entire length of the new road, giving people a safe way to walk or ride a bicycle to reach their destination.
The third phase of the project, which consisted of reconstruction of Airport Road from West Tipton Street to G Avenue, cost $1.8 million and was completed by Dave O’Mara Contractor of North Vernon in the fall of 2020.
Phase 1 will extend the new road west to South Walnut Street, where another roundabout is planned, and then through the Freeman Field Industrial Park to Airport Road, where a third roundabout will be constructed at the intersection with G Avenue.
Hauersperger said Phase 2 is under utility relocation at this time.
“No real news on that,” he said. “It’s probably going to be next year before you see actual earth moving.”
Overall, the Burkart South Bypass is costing around $30 million with 20% or around $6 million coming from the Seymour Redevelopment Commission. The bulk of the expense is being paid for through federal transportation grants through the Indiana Department of Transportation.
The goal of the bypass is threefold: To help alleviate the amount of semi traffic passing through the city on U.S. 50, to give motorists, especially emergency vehicles, a much-needed option to get around trains coming through the city and to open up the southern area for future development and growth.