New Study Makes Case for Maplecrest Road Extension

New Study Makes Case for Maplecrest Road Extension

Story Published: May 12, 2008 at 7:10 PM EDT

Story Updated: May 12, 2008 at 7:10 PM EDT

By Jeff Neumeyer

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FORT WAYNE, IN (Indiana's NewsCenter) --- Results of a feasibility study suggest it would be a wise financial decision to push ahead with the costly Maplecrest Road extension.

The Allen County Commissioners are now unanimously behind moving forward with the 1.2 mile road extension south from Lake Avenue to State Road 930 on the edge of New Haven.

The project would complete a major north-south corridor on the east side of Fort Wayne.

The price tag for the county would be about 33-million dollars, but the commissioners say a study they paid for bears out that 930 construction jobs will be created in the building phase, dumping 86-million dollars into the local economy immediately.

The same study projects a much larger long-term economic benefit to this area.

Nelson Peters/(R) Allen County Commissioner: " It speaks to a 715-million dollar impact with the creation of about 78-hundred jobs. We believe that we've got the financing mechanisms in place and if we can make the sale to county council on Thursday, I think we're about ready to begin the process."

We'll see if county council buys into those numbers and approves a 25-million dollar bond for the project.

The commissioners insist taxes won't go up, which could be a key selling point to county council.

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