By Dan Spalding
News Now Warsaw
WINONA LAKE – A plan by the Winona Lake town council to construct a roundabout at the intersection of Pierceton and Packerton roads is gaining momentum, but it will be a few years before it takes shape.
An engineer told the council on Tuesday that the construction cost could be just below $2 million.
Town Manager Pam Howard said they don’t have a timeline at this point and that much work is still needed to happen before construction could begin.
She said the town will need to choose a funding source — either state or federal, the latter of which could take five years, she said.
The project has been kicked around for years and was part of the town’s master plan.
“We would like to get it done by 2030, but a lot of that depends on funds,” Howard said.
Traffic at the intersection — especially along Pierce Road east of Grace College — has increased in recent years, and officials expect it to increase with new nearby development.
Officials believe Pierceton Road will continue to see increased traffic near the GraceCollege athletic fields and the future bike park.
A bike park to the west of the intersection is in the early stages of development.
“As the bike park is developed and put in, and if there is other development with Grace College, we will need to get that traffic safety moving,” Howard said.
Northbound motorists currently don’t have a good view to the east, which makes it difficult when trying to turn west.
The nearby land includes a slope to the southeast, but an engineer told council that that would not be a problem in terms of design.
When completed, it would be the town’s third roundabout.
“The nice thing about roundabouts is it does what it’s supposed to do; It slows traffic but keeps it moving,” Howard said.
