‘PROTECT’ Grant To Combat River Erosion In Waynedale Area
The City of Fort Wayne was awarded $3.5 million from the Federal Highway Administration’s Promoting Resilient Operations for Transformative, Efficient, and Cost-saving Transportation (PROTECT) Discretionary Grant Program. Fort Wayne is the only PROTECT recipient in Indiana.
The funding was awarded under four different grant types to 80 projects in 37 states, the District of Columbia, and the Virgin Islands. Fort Wayne’s funding will be from the Resilience Improvement Grant awarded to only 36 communities nationwide, to be used to enhance the resilience of existing surface-transportation infrastructure by improving drainage, relocating roadways, elevating bridges, or incorporating upgrades to allow infrastructure to meet or exceed design standards.
The City of Fort Wayne will use the funding toward stabilizing 2,400 feet of the west bank of the St. Marys River, utilizing nature-based solutions to prevent additional erosion that is threatening further damage to Bluffton Road. The road averages 23,400 vehicles daily, connects over 100 miles of pedestrian trails, and provides Waynedale and Fort Wayne residents with access to important cultural and economic hubs.
“The erosion of the St. Marys riverbank has been a long-standing issue,” said Public Works Director Shan Gunawardena. “This funding provides a great opportunity to address a primary corridor – Bluffton Road – entering into the Waynedale area. Stabilizing the riverbank will help enhance the safety of this major corridor for years to come.”
Since 2014, the City has invested more than $340 million in neighborhood infrastructure enhancements.
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