Greencastle Mayor warns of more road construction on the horizon

Saturday, August 10, 2024 at 5:11 PM

By Paul Gable

Mayor Dunbar told the city council during its meeting Thursday night of the city's intent to go after Community Crossing dollars to do a complete overhaul of Washington Street from Wood Street to Percy Julian Drive

While the U.S. 231 project has impacted Greencastle residents, businesses and motorists for quite some time, Greencastle Mayor Lynda Dunbar is asking residents to continue to be patient.

And, she has a warning for the future.

"I hate to say, city of Greencastle folks, you need to get used to road construction because we are going to have some over the next few years I am mayor," Dunbar told The Putnam County Post.

The reason?

"I am hoping we can do several major areas with what I call the 50 Year Fix. They need a new base, new stormwaters and utilities. It is time that we do some of that," Dunbar said.

Dunbar told the city council during its meeting Thursday night of the city's intent to go after Community Crossing dollars to do a complete overhaul of Washington Street from Wood Street to Percy Julian Drive by Greencastle High School. Dunbar said the area has been repaved numerous times but the upgrades have not improved the roadway.

As a result, Greencastle will look to receive $1.5 million from INDOT to complete the project next year.

"I want to go after Community Crossings dollars every time we can. It is $1.5 million and we can take areas and do the work that needs to be done. That whole Washington Street area would see new sidewalks, pavement, curbs and a little bit of a facelift there. We have the new high school there and a new road would go great with that. It is not a very good road. It needs to go to the base just like US 231," Dunbar said.

During the first eight months of her tenure as mayor, Dunbar has more than once referenced the need to do something with the city's streets.

"We are going to do what we can. We know Shadowlawn needs to be done. I know Albin Pond Road needs to be done. Council needs to make some hard decisions about how we are going to get some of these done because they are in really bad shape. With Community Crossings and some other things, we are going to have to figure out how to get some of these roads fixed," Dunbar said.