Restore Sagamore!

Response:

Once Sagamore Phase 2 construction is complete, the road will be re-posted to its original 40-mph speed limit.

Response:

The majority of the Sagamore Phase 2 corridor slopes toward the center of the road, to the center median rain gardens. As a result, roadway snow should also be plowed to the center. Sidewalk maintenance will be the responsibility of the adjacent property owner, in accordance with City ordinance.

Thank you for your suggestions and informing us with what you have experienced. This information has been passed along to the field personnel for further investigation.

The City has entered into an Agreed Order with IDEM to reduce the overflow of raw sewage into the Wabash River over the next 20 years. Those overflows occur because in older areas of town raw sewage and storm water runoff from rain events are combined in one sewer system and the sewers are not large enough to handle all flow. That section of Sagamore Parkway drains to a combined sewer system. Raising the road allows water in large rain events to overflow to the north to a storm only treatment and pipe system rather than combine with raw sewage. Reducing flows to a combined system avoids the raw sewage overflows to the Wabash River as well as avoids the cost to pump and treat each gallon of storm water at the wastewater plant. Every rain event produces thousands and thousands of gallons of runoff. Each gallon costs approximately $2 to convey and treat. It does not take long for the project to pay for itself in avoided treatment costs. Please visit the Wet Weather page of the City’s website to learn more about the City’s plan, http://lafayette.in.gov/department/index.php?fDD=41-0

Thank you for your question. Only the northbound lanes, just north of Union, will be raised. We encourage you to check out the fly through video located on the Home Page for a visual of this change.

Beech Rd. was closed in an effort to prevent Vinton Woods from becoming a detour route during construction. The road will be opened to traffic once the Railroad Company replaces the crossing at this location. This work is estimated to be completed this summer (2016).

When Sagamore Parkway southbound is closed on or after April 7, traffic will still be able to cross the SR 38/Main Street intersection, with the exception of a 3-week period of time around mid-May and another 3-week period of time later in the summer or early fall. These closures will allow for utility and storm sewer work on the Main Street approaches to Sagamore Parkway. Detour routes will be posted to this website in advance of the closures.

During the May closure, the official detour route for traffic crossing the SR 38/Main Street intersection will be:

· Eastbound: Turn left on Sagamore Parkway, then right on McCarty Lane, then right on Creasy Lane, then back to SR 38
· Westbound: Turn left on Creasy Lane, then right on Sagamore Parkway, then back to Main Street

Additionally, McCarty Lane will be limited to only eastbound local traffic between Main Street and Sagamore Parkway throughout the entire duration of the southbound Sagamore Parkway detour, which is why it is not being proposed for a detour route during the Main Street closure.

If possible, you may wish to find an alternate route until the end of the 2016 construction season. Here’s a rough schedule of the closures and/or restrictions to occur through Fall 2016:

– Sagamore Parkway will be CLOSED in the southbound direction between Kossuth St and Teal Rd through Fall 2016.
– McCarty Lane will be RESTRICTED to one eastbound LOCAL TRAFFIC ONLY lane between Main Street and Sagamore Parkway through Fall 2016
– The east approach of Main Street will be CLOSED for three weeks beginning in May. Additional signage and detour maps will be provided prior to this closure.
– The east approach of McCarty Lane will be RESTRICTED to one eastbound lane east of Sagamore Parkway for 1.5 months beginning in early to mid-summer 2016. This restriction will not happen until after the east approach of Main Street is re-opened. Additional signage and detour maps will be provided prior to this restriction.
– The west approach of Main Street will be CLOSED for three weeks beginning in the late summer 2016. Additional signage and detour maps will be provided prior to this closure.

Thank you for your question. Consideration of construction schedules is a balance of safety, cost, and efficiency. We agree that this project needed to be done and are glad (now that it is a local road) the City has the authority to restore it. When Sagamore was relinquished, the City was given a fixed amount of money to maintain and repair the road. We are trying to stretch those dollars and provide the City a better product to include: increased pavement reconstruction on major side streets thereby increasing intersection capacity, trail connections and safe pedestrian crossings to connect east Lafayette to downtown, decorative street lighting, landscaping and trees, water main reconstruction to failing sections of mains, and sewer reconstruction to reduce the amount of flow to the Combined Sewer Overflows. Longer hours and nighttime work come at a higher cost, from the Contractor, their subs and their suppliers.

Beginning Monday May 9th, the east approach of SR 38 will be closed for approximately 3 weeks. During this 3 week period, Sagamore Parkway will remain open to northbound traffic, and the west approach of Main Street will remain open to eastbound and westbound traffic.

Yes; In an effort to connect existing sidewalks and trails, there will be a crosswalk on the west side of the intersection to cross Greenbush St. and on the south side of the intersection to cross Sagamore Pkwy.

Thank you for your question. The Sagamore Parkway project is designed to comply with the City’s Master Bike & Pedestrian Plan: http://www.lafayettebikeandped.com/ The Bike & Pedestrian plan was developed through public surveys, open houses, public forums, and input from various committees comprised of local leaders of the healthcare, schools, bicycle, running, public transportation, etc. communities in the Greater Lafayette area. The Bike & Pedestrian considered safety, need, connectivity, costs, available Right-of-Way, to name a few. As a result, it was determined that sidewalk will be along both sides of Sagamore Parkway from Greenbush St. to Teal Rd. There will be a section of trail along the west side of Sagamore, south of Greenbush, which will run beside the new detention pond and connect into the bike lanes planned for Earl Ave. and Union St. Also, per the Master Bike & Pedestrian Plan, the major intersections of Sagamore will include median refuge islands to cross Sagamore Pkwy.

Thank you for your inquiry. Sagamore Phase 3, from National Dr. to South St., is anticipated to start construction spring 2017. The construction completion date is currently estimated to be December 2018.

Yes; there are lane restrictions, but no closures. Thank you for your question and your kind feedback.

The tubes in the pole will serve as decorative light, with the ability to change colors (as you witnessed). The City can use these poles to promote events and holidays, while creating a unique and inviting look to this important roadway and its businesses. Thank you for your question and your interest in this project.

While trees can be an obstacle, similar to street signs, fire hydrants, light poles, etc., they too serve positive purposes. The shade which trees provide helps preserve and prolong pavement life. In addition, they create safer walking environments by creating a more visible buffer. There have also been studies that reflect increased business and added property value on tree-scaped streets (they help with esthetics).

City projects consider the proximity to the road, the type of adjacent road, how much space the tree has to grow, location of overhead power lines, and salt tolerance when determining the selected tree species. They are then spaced and planted in compliance with the City Ordinance. While the species selected along Sagamore are ones that grow narrow or tall enough that branches would clear traffic, the City will be responsible for trimming any unexpected street obstructions. Similarly, while the species selected have deep root systems, should an errant root heave the adjacent sidewalk the City will be responsible to repair the walkway to comply with accessibility standards.

Thank you for this great question, and bringing attention to a signature feature throughout the corridor. The average cost of the decorative street lights amongst the three project phases, and considering the two types (double arms and single arms) and including pole, foundation, wiring, conduit, decorative tubes, and roadway luminaires is approximately $11,000. The City works diligently to spend economic development dollars wisely, in a manner that improves the quality of life for their citizens, and that is in the best interest of the public and local businesses long term. The decorative lights draw people to the corridor and its businesses, and has helped change Sagamore Parkway from the utilitarian, dilapidated state highway it was, into the unique and inviting road it is becoming today:

Again, thank you for your question and for your interest in this project!

Thank you very much for your comments. We used several types of ornamental grasses throughout the project. We used ‘Cheyenne Sky’ Switchgrass and ‘Karl Forester’ Feather Reed Grass. I believe the grass you are referring to is the ‘Cheyenne Sky’ Switchgrass. The Latin name for this is Panicum Virgatum ‘Cheyenne Sky’.

Thank you for your questions and interest in the project. We are happy to announce that the intersection of South St. and Sagamore Pkwy is open!!! The roadway surface is now complete and smooth. However, there is still work being done in the area (to include pavement markings, landscaping, signals, etc.), so please pay close attention to all traffic signs and delineators. This final phase of construction will wrap up this fall, and the center tube lights are scheduled to be in operation upon completion.