Portland OKs paving project

Some Portland residents will have their streets renovated in the coming year.
Portland Board of Works unanimously approved at Monday’s meeting hiring Brooks Construction, a Fort Wayne company that recently completed the Indiana 26 East (Water Street) project, to pave several streets in the city in spring 2016.
The board — Bill Gibson, Jerry Leonhard and Portland Mayor Randy Geesaman — agreed to pay the company $118,757 for work on five streets and several alleys.
Streets that will be repaved are Main Street between Morton and Pierce streets, Sixth Street between Bridge and Helen streets, Fifth Street, Vine Street and Adams Street. Alleys that will be repaved run between Meridian and Shank streets, Ben Hawkins and Franklin Streets and Fifth and Sixth streets.
In a previous meeting, the board accepted quotes from two companies, with the bid from Milestone Contractors coming it at $119,598.35.
Adams Street will be the most expensive part of the plan at $19,540. For this portion of the project, the board plans to have a grass section cut out from the area and insert a stone base.
There have been issues with the street because, Geesaman said, semi drivers use it to get from Meridian Street to Wayne Street despite a sign instructing them not to do so. Because the street is not intended for semi traffic, the result has been damage to the property at 144 E. Adams St.
Street and park superintendent Ryan Myers noted the drivers are unable to make it onto Wayne Street because the turn is too tight and many end up cutting through the property owner’s yard.
“They’ve done it about five times now,” he said. “I don’t know why they did that intersection that way in the first place.
“That street turns into an alley, then you’re trying to get back out into Wayne Street where you want to go. These guys get on this road and they’re committed once they turn. So no matter what, they’re going to go that way.”