By JACKIE HENRY
Managing Editor
Representatives from American Structurepoint were on hand to speak to members of the Tipton Common Council at their last meeting.
Through grant funding, Jefferson Street will take on a new look from Buck Creek (West of downtown) to Independence Street. Beginning in the spring of this year, demographic group meetings took place to identify project purposes, needs and desirable improvements. This included meetings with municipal utilities, fire, police, planning and the street department, as well as pedestrians, local business owners and local homeowners. Commonly identified issues included traffic exceeding speed limits, large thru-truck volumes, pedestrian safety, drainage and flooding issues and a lack of available parking.
Project needs were found to be roadway right sizing, pedestrian accessibility, drainage improvements and traffic calming measures. To improve the road, it was suggested to reduce lane widths, keep parking lanes and add angled parking. A shared-use path, grass buffer and curb extensions would be safer for pedestrians. For drainage improvements, CSO separation, curb inlets, gutters and underdrains were discussed. To calm the traffic, a raised intersection at Main Street and new street lighting was recommended.
The reconstruction would include ADA curb ramp and curb extensions, which would make less distance for pedestrians to cross Jefferson Street. Pavement marking restriping, adding 10 parallel and 10 angled parking spaces. New decorative lighting would be put in place from Buck Creed to West Street.
Surface reconstruction would include underdrains and storm sewer trunkline, drains to Buck Creek. Lighting conduit installations and removing the overhead wiring and upgrades to Tipton Municipal Utilities sanitary and water main.
During the construction, traffic from U.S. 31 would be detoured to Division Road to Ind. 19 with the goal to be one construction season. During different phases of the reconstruction, local traffic would take Washington and Madison Streets from Sweetland Avenue to Independence Street. Some phases of the reconstruction will keep one lane of Jefferson Street open with two-way access across Buck Creek. Work zones will be staged to provide additional north-south access across Jefferson Street for adjacent thoroughfares. West Street and Main Street would not be closed concurrently and business access via sidewalks and side streets would be maintained at all times.
Currently, the reconstruction is in Stage One, which is presenting the information to the Tipton City Council. The project development schedule would be in the Fall of 2024, finalize right-of-way impacts, drainage and detours. Summer of 2026 would be the environmental document approval with public information meetings. The winter of 2027 would have the right-of-way clear certification. The goal is to minimize as much as possible and the company is currently working to identify impacts. Also in the winter of 2027 the final plans and engineering costs would be given with contract bids letting in the summer of 2028.
Information regarding the reconstruction of Jefferson Street will be provided when available.
