Dunkirk work underway

DUNKIRK — More road and sidewalk work is underway.

Just as the final street striping is finishing up on Indiana 167 (Main Street) in Dunkirk, Brooks Construction of Fort Wayne began a separate project Monday.

The latest work stems from an Indiana Department of Transportation Community Crossings Grant of $291,210 that was awarded in April.

Brooks Construction crews got started Monday morning with sidewalk improvements on Franklin Street between Commerce and Washington streets. The sidewalk work will cover about 2.5 blocks, Dunkirk Mayor Jack Robbins said.

The paving work includes two sections of Indiana Street — between Ohio and Center streets, and between Railroad and Grant streets.

Other streets that will be paved in the coming weeks are:

•Center Street between Broad Street and its west end at Dunkirk Moose Lodge

•North Street between Meridian and Broad streets

•Railroad street between Main and Broad streets

•Franklin Street between Lincoln and Oak streets

•The entirety of Chestnut Street

The street work that opened Monday followed an INDOT project to pave Indiana 167 from Indiana 67 to the north side of the city. It also included sidewalks upgrades and adding a bump-out at its intersection with Commerce Street.

“It’s a mess if you’re trying to get around in Dunkirk,” said Mayor Jack Robbins.

“I look at that as a good thing,” he added, noting that the construction means the city is making progress.

He mentioned not only the paving and sidewalk work, but the recent opening of Glass Capital Cafe, the pending completion of a mural (see story in Wednesday’s newspaper), remodeling work at Ag Best and the former train depot building, and other business projects that are planned.

Previous Dunkirk paving work funded in part by Community Crossings grants included paving and/or sidewalk work for Commerce, Washington, Barbier and Lincoln streets and Highland Avenue.

Robbins said the city plans to turn in another application for Community Crossings funding this month with hopes of paving all or part of Moore Avenue, Layne Drive, Ellis Drive and Walsh Court.