INDOT gives OK for project

Portland’s pedestrians got some good news Friday.

Jay County community development director Ami Huffman was notified late Friday afternoon that Indiana Department of Transportation has approved funding for construction of a sidewalk along Votaw Street.

The project calls for a new sidewalk that would run on the south side of Votaw Street (Indiana 67) between Commerce Street and Haynes Park. It would then cross the north side of the street in front of Jay County Hospital and continue to the Walmart property.

INDOT has approved $415,836 for the work, with the City of Portland responsible for a 20-percent match.

Both Portland Mayor Randy Geesaman and Huffman noted the importance of the project because of the amount of foot traffic along the state highway.

“We’re just amazed at the number of people that are walking down the highway there,” said Geesaman. “We just cringe every time we see that …

“That was very good news that we got today.”

The project was one on a list of priorities for the mayor, and Huffman turned in the initial application for funds in December. She and Ryan Lefeld of Choice One Engineering worked on the application together and made a presentation to INDOT on Jan. 24.

Part of that presentation was showing photos of pedestrians walking along Votaw Street.

“Every time I saw a family walking, I took pictures with my cell phone,” said Huffman. “Everyone sees families walking to Walmart along there.

“It’s a safety concern, especially since that’s the only grocery in town.”

Walmart manager Jim Fennig and Pizza King owner Brian McGalliard, whose businesses would bookend the new sidewalk, also wrote letters of support for the project.

Geesaman noted that the area of the Votaw Street entrance to Walmart has been dangerous for drivers, averaging 20 accidents per year. It was also the site of a traffic collision in 2011 that resulted in the death of Portland Fire Chief Matt Aker.

The mayor said the sidewalks are a good first step toward making the area safer.

Huffman said the earliest the project could start is summer 2021.

Two other projects involving INDOT funding are already in progress.

One of those is repaving Blaine Pike from Water Street to Bittersweet Lane, along with adding a sidewalk. That work, estimated at a cost of $630,000, is scheduled for 2021.

The other calls for new sidewalks along both sides of High Street between Middle Street and the downtown area. That project is expected to cost about $160,000.

Previous projects completed in Portland with help from INDOT funding include the walking path along Creagor Avenue between Lafayette Street and Votaw Street, and the sidewalk from Votaw Street along Middle and High streets to Judge Haynes Elementary School.

Huffman also received word Friday that Redkey did not receive funding for additional sidewalks near the cabin at Redkey Morgan Park. INDOT has already approved funding for sidewalks on the south side of High Street and east side of Mooney Street in the same area, and the most recent proposal was for sidewalks along Central Avenue and Morgan Drive on the same block. Huffman said she plans to apply for funds for that work again.