Neighbors gathered around after the meeting to look at plans for the project.

WARSAW — A neighborhood meeting to discuss upcoming work on phase two of the Market Street project was held last night, Sept. 10, at Warsaw City Hall.

Warsaw Mayor Joseph Thallemer explained that this is a $2.4 million federal road project. The project includes new curb, pavement, sidewalk, streetlights and bump-outs for parallel parking on East Market Street, from Bronson to Hickory Streets. Phase two will mirror phase one of the project.

Neighbors who live in the affected area were invited to the meeting to ask questions and receive a preliminary timeline for the project.

“I think we are really proud of the way this is going to look and the connectivity it’s going to create on Market Street to the downtown,” said Thallemer. “We know it’s going to be a great project we just know it’s going to be really frustrating while it’s going on.”

City Planner Jeremy Skinner said that tree and storm infrastructure work will start this month. The plan is to get as much of the work done this year that does not involve tearing the road out. Construction on the actual road will begin in spring, “as soon as the weather breaks.” During this time, there will be road closures. The whole project is slated to be completed by October 2019.

It was explained that local traffic will have access to their homes throughout the project. The work will be done in three phases, meaning that small sections of the road will not be easily accessible for periods of time. There are a few homes on Market Street that do not have access through alleys or backroads. Construction workers will make sure that the homeowners have access to those homes at all times, it just might mean parking their vehicles further away and walking to their homes.

“The end project will be worth it,” said Skinner. “It will feel more like a neighborhood than it has in the past.”

During the question period of the meeting, one homeowner questioned the hue and brightness of the streetlights. She claimed that the LED streetlights on phase one are brighter than streetlights on other roads, such as Parker Street. She asked if there was a way to change the hue of the lights to provide a more “neighborly feel,” that the city considers doing so.

Skinner explained that the older streetlights, like on Parker Street, are sodium lights, which aren’t widely-made anymore. He claimed that while LED lights appear brighter, they merely have a clearer appearance. Since sodium lights aren’t a possibility, LED lights are what will be used for the streetlights. The homeowner requested that if there is a choice in hue, the city pick the less bright option.

A few questions were asked regarding the replacement of trees. NIPSCO will be cutting down several trees in the area so they can move utility poles further from the road. Skinner said there was no guarantee as to how many trees would be replanted. NIPSCO’s tree replacement program will be used to place low-profile trees along the street. Most likely, homeowners will have to agree to have a tree on their property so the tree does not interfere with the sidewalks.

Warsaw-Wayne Fire Chief Mike Wilson and Warsaw Police Department Captain Joel Beam were present at the meeting. They assured neighbors that in the event of an emergency, their departments will be able to reach their homes.

“We will get to you,” said Wilson. “We will watch the areas that are down and will be able to get to you. I am very comfortable about that.”

Near the end of the meeting, Thallemer stressed that residents should never drive around barricades. Any barricades placed during construction are there for a reason. Driving around barricades is dangerous for the driver’s safety and can harm private property.

During the construction period, thru traffic will be redirected to use Center Street or Winona Avenue.

City Planner Jeremy Skinner answered questions from neighbors about the project.